LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


^ 


^  >  ' f 


'faay 

u 


EUNICE  BLOU.VT  AT  SUNNYSIDK.    [Pages  1XJ.  154. 


IN"    GOLD. 


HOW  TO  MAKE   IT. 


A  PRACTICAL  NARRATIVE,  SUGGESTING 

HOW  TO  USE,  AND  NOT  ABUSE  IT;      HOW  TO  GAIN,    AND   HOW  TO   LEND    IT; 

HOW  TO  KEEP,    AND   NOT  TO  LOSE  IT;      HOW  TO   INCREASE, 

AND  HOW  TO   SPEND   IT. 


BY  CAPT.  GEO.  P.  BURNHAM. 
Author  of  "  AMERICAN  COUNTERFEITS  :  how  detected  and  avoided." 


"  WEALTH  is  but  comparative.    The  man  who  possesses  a  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  is  as  well  off  as  if  he  were  rich." — JOHN  JACOB  ASTOR. 


FULLY     ILLUSTRATED. 


SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. : 

.    J.    H 

1876. 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 

W.    J.    HOLLAND, 
lu  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 

[ALL  RIUIITS  RESEBVEU.] 


FRANKLIN  PRESS: 

STKREOTYPED  AND  PRINTED  BY 

RAND,  AVERT,  &  Co. 


PREFACE. 


THE  introduction  to  this  volume  will  be  brief,  inasmuch  as  those  who 
may  honor  me  by  perusing  the  work  will  no  doubt  incline  to  get  at  the 
contents  of  this  peculiar  nut,  at  once ;  preferring  the  kernel  to  the  shell. 

I  will  therefore  simply  say,  by  way  of  preface,  that  the  generous 
patronage  bestowed  by  the  reading  public  upon  my  previous  work  issued 
by  the  publisher  of  tjiis  book,  prompted  me  to  prepare  the  succeeding 
pages,  now  submitted  in  this  narrative  form. 

The  recommendations  and  advice  herein  contained  result  from  a  forty 
years'  experience  and  acquaintance  with  the  business  world.  I  am 
aware  that  carpers  may  incline  to  criticise  a  literary  production  bearing 
such  a  title  as  that  which  I  have  chosen  for  this  book ;  but  it  is  oriyinal 
—  to  say  the  least  of  it.  And  I  add  that  this  volume  is  written  for  the 
public,  not  for  the  critics. 

It  is  very  true  that  "  A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD"  is 
not  considered  a  very  large  sum  to  be  accumulated  by  a  single  person, 
within  a  decade  or  two  of  years  steadily  devoted  to  active  prosperous 
trade,  at  the  present  time,  in  our  enterprising,  money-making  country. 
Yet  this  is  enough,  for  most  of  us,  individually;  and  more  than  many  of 
us  acquire  and  saoe,  in  a  life-time. 

Within  the  writer's  business  experience,  he  has  twice  gained  and 
earned  —  and  nearly  lost  —  just  such  a  fortune!  If  the  hints  and  sug 
gestions  contained  in  the  rehearsal  of  the  modes  in  which  such  a  com 
petency  was  acquired  by  veritable  parties,  and  the  indicated  warnings 

v 


VI  PREFACE. 

against  the  course  through  which  it  may  be  lost,  are  studied  —  as  set 
clown  in  these  pages  —  a  goodly  measure  of  sterling  benefit  will  inure 
to  the  reader;  who,  while  he  may  be  entertained  with  the  narrative,  may 
thus  learn  "how  to  make  it "  for  himself,  how  to  save  it,  how  to  use, 
and  how  enjoy  it  —  when  once  it  is  secured. 

The  several  examples  we  have  cited  are  literal  illustrations,  and  many 
more  of  a  similarly  interesting  character,  where  prime  success  has 
attended  honest  and  duteous  effort  in  the  right  direction,  might  have 
been  presented  in  confirmation  of  the  theory  we  have  aimed  to  eluci 
date. 

It  is  believed,  however,  that  the  presentation  of  the  numerous  facts 
and  suggestions  embodied  in  this  volume  will  offer  real  encouragement 
to  the  poor  young  man  who  may  have  the  disposition  to  emulate  these 
exemplars,  and  who  resolves  in  earnest  seasonably  to  win  his  way 
against  "  the  odds  that  wait  on  fortune,"  however  forbidding  and  un 
promising  may  be  the  circumstances  and  surroundings  of  his  early  years ; 
since  every  man,  however  humble,  is  in  a  great  measure  the  carver  of 
his  own  pecuniary  destiny,  and  all  history  bears  testimony  to  the  fact 
that  "men  may  second  Fortune,  but  they  cannot  thwart  her  —  they 
may  weave  her  web,  but  they  cannot  break  it." 

GEO.  P.  BURNHAM. 
MELBOSE,  October,  1875. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A  FEW  NOTABLE  AMERICAN  MELLIONNAIRES. 

Do-nothmgs  and  Do-somethings.  Our  men  of  wealth,  A.  T.  Stewart, 
Stephen  Girard,  John  Jacob  Astor,  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  Win.  B. 
Dinsmore,  Robert  Bonner,  Alvin  Adams,  P.  T.  Barnum,  Chas.  Knox, 
Elias  Howe,  Nicholas  Longworth,  James  Gordon  Bennett,  Sen'r., 
the  Lorillards,  the  Williams',  the  Schencks,  the  Jaynes,  et  als.  How 
they  made  their  fortunes.  Typical  cases,  and  representative  workers. 
What  man  has  done,  man  may  do.  The  road  to  wealth  is  ever  open.  17 

CHAPTER  IT. 

THE  BEGINNING.       TOUCHING  HARD  PAN. 

THE  '  Great  Fire '  in  New  York.  The  panic  of  1837.  Broken  Banks. 
No  money,  no  work,  no  prospect.  Poor  artisans,  clerks,  and  mechan 
ics.  What  could  they  do?  Adversity  and  distress.  Our  characters 
at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder.  The  dry-goods  salesman,  the  broker's 
clerk,  the  poor  printer,  the  toiling  inventor,  the  impoverished  book 
keeper,  the  up-country  drover,  the  well-to-do  farmer,  the  rustic 
beauty,  and  the  faithful  wife.  A  triple  board-bill  settled.  The 
watch  pawned.  The  young  wife's  jewelry  sacrificed.  The  jew  and 
the  sufferers.  Only  "  three  per  cent  a  month  " 38 

CHAPTER  in. 

WHAT  A  DAY  MAY  BRING  FORTH. 

ONE  hundred  dollars  hi  hand.  Two  dollars  left.  A  good  action  re 
warded.  What  next?  "We'll  go  to  work."  The  young  men  hunt 
in  couples.  Nothing  to  do  —  and  everybody  to  help  do  it.  The  mus 
cular  clergyman's  advice.  "  Forward  —  march ! "  A  hopeful  attempt. 
No!  "We  don't  want  any  clerks."  Hard  times,  in  earnest.  A  lib 
eral  offer.  The  young  wife's  encouraging  words.  Sanguine  youths. 
We'll  make  a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  yet!  —  "I can't."  Well — 
"  I  WILL  TRY."  Our  lads  are  as  good  as  their  promise  .  .  .  .56 

vii 


Vlii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

HOW  TO   BEGIN  TO   MAKE  MONEY. 

OCR  heroes  pass  the  crisis.  How  they  began  to  "  make  it."  The  true 
and  the  false  way.  Diligence,  earnestness,  wit,  and  skill.  The  route 
to  wealth  a  plain  one.  Spend  less  than  you  earn.  The  broker's  clerk 
meets  with  a  genial  fanner.  Old  Blount  offers  the  city  lad  employ 
ment.  He  goes  from  State  Street  Boston,  to  the  Connecticut  River. 
What  the  "  nice  young  man  "  finds  there  —  who  he  meets  —  what  he 
is  good  for  —  and  how  he  manages  to  get.  on,  in  his  new  vocation. 
"  The  difference  between  patent  leather  and  cowhide  boots,  is  mostly 
inthe«Atn«,  lad!"  .  .  .  ^  .  ,  .  .  ,  .  .  67 

CHAPTER  V. 

MORRIS  DEANS  IMPROVES   HIS  PROSPECTS. 

THE  State  Street  boy  is  introduced  to  the  "Sunnyside"  household. 
Miss  Eunice  Blount—  the  farmer's  buxom  daughter.  Young  Morris 
shows  the  old  hands  how  to  milk  a  fractious  heifer.  He  doffs  the 
broadcloth,  and  dons  the  homespun.  "  Owe  no  man  a  dollar.  Pay 
as  you  go  — or  go  without."  Stick  a  pin  there,  lad!  Morris  takes 
charge  of  the  fancy  stock  cattle  on  Blotmt's  farm.  "  He's  smart  — 
this  boy.  I  reck'u  we'll  make  a  man  of  him,  after  a  spell "  .  85 

CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW  MORRIS  DEANS  MADE,  AND  SAVED  IT. 

GOOD  Farmer  Blount,  and  the  little  ones.  Haying-time  and  rare  sport 
for  the  children.  Aunt  Chlod,  the  darkie  attendant  Homeward 
bound.  "Look  out,  Mass'r!  Don't  yer  obertip  us!"  The  new 
hand  goes  forward — every  time.  Blount  values,  and  advises  him. 
"It's  easier  to  make,  than  to  save  it,  lad."  How  much  is  enough? 
Who  is  contented?  A  trite  illustration,  in  answer.  Money  in  the 
Savings  Bank,  is  a  handy  thing.  An  advance  in  pay.  How  "  Sunuy- 
side  "  farm  was  earned.  A  small  fortune  for  the  late  city  broker's 
clerk.  Old  Uncle  Philip  demonstrates  the  power  of  music  .  .  jr. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

A   "  BIO  THING  "   FOR  POOR  ELY  HAWES. 

OUR  dry-goods  salesman  locates  in  New  York.  Frank  Meyers  could 
say  'Yes,'  but  never  'No.'  He  obtains  a  new  position.  The  cot 
ton-goods'  buyer.  New  York  is  not  Boston!  Why  Meiers  made 


CONTENTS.  IX 

money  —  and  lent  it.  How  his  gains  increased.  He  finds  his  old 
chum,  the  machinist  Six  thousand  against  six  hundred  a  year.  Ely 
Ha\ves  shows  his  new  invention.  Frank  Meyers  is  pleased,  but 
puzzled.  "  It's  a  big  thing,  Ely ! "  His  friend  urges  the  inventor  to 
try  New  York  with  it.  What  he  concludes  on 113 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

HOW  FKANK  MEYERS  MADE,   AND  LENT  IT. 

How  much  does  it  cost  for  a  Patent  V  A  pleasant  letter  for  Ely  Hawes. 
The  machinist  thinks  he  will  visit  Washington.  Meyers  lacks  a  '  bal 
ance-wheel.'  He  makes  new  loans.  The  Wall  Street  sharpers  catch 
him.  $6,000  out,  in  three  days.  Castles  in  the  air.  Who  wins  at  the 
Stock  Exchange?  Query  —  who!  A  colossal  fortune  for  a  born  fooL 
Seven  millions  made  in  eight  months.  Eight  millions  lost  in  four 
months  afterwards!  A  veritable  case.  Our  friend  Frank  Meyers 
'  sees  the  elephant'  — and  learns  a  useful  lesson.  "  No  more  for  me, 
gentlemen!" 127 

CHAPTER  IX. 

FRANK  LEARNS  HOW  NOT  TO  LOSE  IT. 

A  GOOD  way  not  to  lose  your  money,  when  you  get  it.  The  philoso 
pher's  stone.  Buy  a  hundred,  not  a  thousand  shares,  "  for  the  rise." 
What  "a  corner"  will  do  for  the  small  fry.  Brokers'  commissions 
bigger  than  speculators'  "  margins."  How  not  to  do  it.  Frank  Mey 
ers  visits  the  Wall  Street  menagerie,  and  gets  acquainted  with  the 
'  bulls  and  bears,'  at  only  three  thousand  dollars  cost.  Cheap  enough! 
A  luckier  hit.  A  good  investment.  Now  —  keep  cool  .  .  .  137 


CHAPTER  X. 

HOW  BRAVE  ELY  HAWES  FLOURISHED. 

ELY  Hawes  invents  a  curious  Bank  Safe  Lock.  He  goes  to  Washington, 
to  patent  it.  What  he  thought  the  capitol  was.  What  he  found  it  to 
be.  A  full  purse,  and  a  light  heart.  Getting  into  the  wrong  shop. 
A  pot-bellied  native.  "I  want  to  get  a  Patent."  How  Ely  didn't 
"get"  it.  Too  late!  "God  bless  us,  sir  — it  is  past  two,  P.M." 
Hard-working  government  clerks.  Poor  fellows!  "Is  the  building 
on  fire?"  Who  are  you?  "  I'se  Mass'r  Greene's  boy,  sah."  The 
model  lock.  Prospects  ahead.  Slower  than  a  turtle  with  a  slow 
fever .  .  .  .  .145 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XL 

MB.    GREENE  AND  MR.   POMPUS  I    EXAMINERS. 

"  MR.  Zintsing  Pompus,  Examiner,  sir."  How  hard  they  toil— at  read 
ing  the  newspapers!  "Mr.  Greene,  one  word,  if  you  please?"  A 
polite  man.  Which  Greene?  There's  six  of 'em.  Ely's  "  Impene 
trable  lock."  The  invention  of  "  Mr.  Orze  "  is  duly  filed,  as  a  Safe. 
No  hurrying  in  this  Department,  sir.  A  little  technicality.  What  a 
man  must  do  '  to  begin  right,'  to  obtain  a  patent.  Is  this  all  ?  "  Call 
in  fo  ir  weeks,  and  we  will  tell  you  when  to — call  again,  sir."  Mr. 
Zintsing  Pompus  enlightens  Mr.  Ha wea  —  not  much!  .  .  .  .164 

CHAPTER  XII. 

OUR  YOUNG  MECHANIC  MAKES   A  POINT. 

LAWYER  Shrood  helps  the  anxious  inventor  out.  A  moderate  charge! 
He  'knows  the  ropes  '  — he  does.  Ely  gives  his  work  into  Shrood's 
hands.  The  turtle  and  his  burthen.  A  precious 'slow  coach.'  Patent 
Agent  Shrood  gets  on.  An  unfortunate  accident.  Ely  goes  under. 
The  runaway  team.  "  He  is  dead,  sir!"  Not  quite.  A  long  season 
hi  doors  for  Ely.  Convalescence.  Recovery.  A  triumph,  at  last. 
Hawes  secures  his  Letters  Patent,  and  bids  adieu  to  "Washington,  its 
shams,  and  its  miseries.  "  Say,  Frank!  I've  got  the  documents!  "  .  180 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

HOW  REUBEN  DOWNER  MADE,    AND  SAVED  IT. 

THE  mode  adopted  by  the  poor  printer  to  '  make  it.'  A  tight  fit  to  get 
on,  and  pay  his  way.  "I  will  one  day  be  rich."  His  duty  at  the  case, 
as  foreman,  as  editor,  as  proprietor.  What  one  man  can  do.  The 
N.Y.  weekly  Leader.  A  sharp  dodge.  Something  new.  "  Buy  the 
N.Y.  Leader!"  Whatfor?  "Fannie  Firm  writes  for  the  N.Y.  Leader." 
Who  is  she?  A  right  smart  paper.  A  live  editor.  A  grand  project. 
A  big  circulation.  Brains,  pluck,  and  perseverance  did  it.  A  de 
cided  success.  Who  is  Reuben  Downer  ?  .  194 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HOW  DAVTD,   THE  DROVER,   MADE  HIS  PILE. 

DAVTD  Morehead,  the  New  Hampshire  Drover,  strikes  out  for  himself. 
Deacon  Rounds  does  not  aid  him,  over  much.  He  takes  to  horse-flesh, 
nat' rally.  Old  Rounds  flourishes,  and  David  tries  it  on.  "  You  know 


CONTENTS. 


how  it  is,  yourself,  deacon."  Grimes'  played-out  New  Hampshire 
farm.  David  buys  it,  stocks  it,  and  progresses  on  it.  Polly  White, 
and  how  she  married.  The  Morgan  colts.  What  David  did  with 
them.  A  lively  trade.  Old  Winkham's  trotter.  What  became  of 
him.  "He's  a  good 'un,  sure's  you're  alive!"  A  winner  .  .  .204 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  STOBY  OF   "SPOT,"   FARMER  BLOUKX's  FAMOUS  DOG. 

THE  Newfoundland  at  Sunnyside.  He  makes  himself  friendly.  Where 
he  came  from.  Miss  Eunice  teDs  his  romantic  story.  The  visit  of 
Blount  to  Cape  Ann  Lighthouse.  He  falls  in  love  with  "Spot" 
there.  The  poor  Lightkeeper,  and  the  generous  offer.  The  sale  and 
delivery.  What  "  Spot "  was  good  for.  The  wreck  —  the  prowess  of 
the  big  dog.  The  rescued  child.  The  grateful  Captain.  A  noble 
beast.  His  value  on  the  farm.  Spof  s  portrait,  from  life  .  .  •  216 

CHAPTER  XVL 

MORRIS  AND  DAVID  MAKE  A  MUTUAL  GOOD  TRADK. 

MORRIS  Deans  sees  the  trotting  gelding.  David  makes  another  good 
trade.  Morris  is  pleased!  He  goes  to  New  York  with  his  fancy  colt. 
Reuben  Downer  examines  this  fast  'un.  A  ride  with  the  wind.  The 
old  friends  meet  in  a  sit-down  at  Delmonico's.  The  Morgan  horse, 
again.  "  What  is  his  time  ?  "  Away  down  in  the  twenties.  "  Good 
enough ! "  Ely  Hawes  getting  ready  for  the  Institute  Fair.  The  trial 
of  speed.  "  Let  him  wait,  Morris.  Three  months  hence,  we'll  see." 
The  promised  turn  around  the  mile-course 228 

CHAPTER  XVTL 

HOW  MR.   TWEEDLE  MADE,   AND  LOST  IT. 

A.  CONTRAST  in  the  modes  of  making  money.  The  fate  of  a  man  who 
began  wrong.  Mr.  Tweedle  a  natural  living  mistake.  What  true 
genius  is,  and  what  is  false  Tweedle's  choice.  The  Tammany 
ring.  Tweedle  a  Sachem.  He  asks  no  questions.  "Worth  a  mil 
lion?"  "Yes  —  and  five  times  more."  How  he  made  it.  How  he 
didn't  keep  it.  The  community  good  critics.  Where  did  he  get  it? 
Out  of  the  public  till!  The  arrest  — the  defiance— the  trial  — the 
sentence.  Mr.  Tweedle  drops.  The  Penitentiary  receives  him.  He 
is  indignant  —  but  beaten  —  and  his  Tammany  friends  are  as 
tounded  .  24c 


xu 

CHAPTER  XYTIL 


FOR  THX  MORRIS  MKA53   COLT 


A  SICE  *«•  to  look  at."  and"*  good 'on  togo!"  Reuben  Downer 
be  knows  about  a  horse-shoe,  A  drive  over  the  Bloom- 
i,  lie*iii?«l  Downer's  flyer.  Morris  Deans  pats  his  new  pony 
in±3L  "He's'a  good  coll."  He  is  placed  in  train- 
ing.  Morris  returns  to  Sunnyside.  A  later  trial  with  the  new  trotter. 
A  big  price  for  an  imported  bull.  "±2i  marked  time,"  for  the  Mor 
ris  Deans  colt,  "He  is  yours,  sir,  at  your  offer  — $25,000!"  Morris 
to  'make  bis  bundled 

CHAPTER  XTX. 

HOW  A  SECRET   "DFORJCER"   MADE  IT. 

Moss  Topley,  the  iiiriiiHssi  His  early  history.  A  '  mysterious  man.' 
He  travels  on  his  cheek,  carries  no  luggage,  and  pays  no  bills  of  hi* 
u»liailing,r!  The  Expressman's  account  of  MOMS.  He  gets  a  fat 
service.  What  be  does  about  it  The  Congress- 


i  of  Moses.  Who  knows  him?  Nobody!  He  bags  his 
pile.  A  Committee  ait  upon  Mose  He  is  called  as  a  first  class  wit 
ness.  "£T«  can  tell  us  all  about  it."  Only  $300,000  for  Moses!  The 

a  heap  from  Am.  —  Exit  Mose*.  with  his  plunder    .274 


CHAPTER  XX. 

TWO  CLEAR  HEADS  SOMETIMES  BETTER  THA1T  OH*. 

bookkeeper,  improves  his  chances.    His  wife 
A  genuine  *  helpmeet.'    Fred,  is 
can  do.    How  Fannie  did  it.    "  Two 
Frank  Meyers'  salary  increased.    Downer's 
proves  a  "big  bonanza."    Morris  Deans  on  the 
to  fortune.    Old  Biotmt  better  off  than  ever.    David  More- 
Polly,  his  wife.    Ely  Hawes  finds  competitors.    The  telling 

Ely's  new  lock— and  what  he  did  with  it.        .        .  2Pn 

CHAPTER  XXL 

KYERY  MA3T  THE  ARCHITECT  OF  HIS  OWii   FORTU3CK. 

invention"  is.  A  description  of  Ely  Hawes'  new  Patent. 
What  be  thought  of  it,  and  what  others  found  it.  "  The  children  cry 
for  'em! "  How  do  yon  open  it?  That  is  the  question.  The  ap- 
proaching  Institute  Etfubftion.  Ely  is  around,  with  his  Safes.  Who 
wffl  win  the  Society's  Grand  Gold  Medal?  $5,000  deposited  in  the 
closed  rival  Safes.  The  proposition,  and  the  contest.  Twelve  hours 
allowed.  Ely's  new  Lock  to  be  first  picked,  or  burst.  All  right,  so  far.  308 


COXTEXTS. 

CHAPTER 

WHAT  HAPPENED  AT  THE  GREAT  INSTITUTE  FAIR. 


THE  rivals  in  earnest,  A  laudable  ambition.  Ely  Hawes 
has  conceived  a  good  thing.  What  the  public  thought.  A  manly 
challenge.  The  contestants  draw  lots  for  the  first  trial.  Ely  loses. 
Morris  Deans  and  Eunice  come  down  to  the  Fair.  The  old  inventor 
is  puzzled.  Another  advertisement.  Ely  shows  the  toiler  how  to  do 
it.  But  he  doesn't  learn!  The  secret  of  the  lock.  Eight  hours — ten  — 
twelve— and  "time!"  is  called.  But  Ely  Hawes*  new  lock  stands 
the  test  "It  is  a  good  one,  sir.  I  say  so—  and  I  know"  .  .  .318 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

FIVE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS,   AND  THE  GOLD  MEDAL 

ANOTHER  day's  work  upon  the  rivals'  locks.  Ely  Hawes  tries  his  hand 
at  it,  in  turn.  A  big  crowd  witness  the  experiment.  Where  is  the 
key?  A  curious  conception.  Ely  tofls  nine  hours,  but  does  not  suc 
ceed.  Three  hours'  time,  yet.  Once  more.  $5,000  in  gold  inside  the 
safe,  the  reward.  An  hour  before  eight,  PJM.,  he  wins!  The  triumph. 
The  Society's  Gold  MedaL  Elvis  happy.  Ms  Safe  lock  pronounced 
the  best  in  the  world 338 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FRANK  MEYERS  GETS  STRANGELY  BEFOGGED. 

MORRIS  Deans  and  Eunice  Blount  at  the  Fair.  Morris  puts  his  lady 
friend  in  charge  of  Frank  Meyers.  They  go  through  the  Exhibition. 
Frank  is  smitten.  He  asks  questions.  -  Is  Eunice  engaged  to  Mor 
ris?"  Of  course  she  is — only  it  proves  otherwise!  Frank  is  inquisi 
tive.  Eunice  explains.  Meyers  is  astonished,  but  gratified.  Here  is 
his  opportunity.  Eunice  invites  him  up  to  Sannyside.  He  accepts 
the  invitation,  and  wfll  win  her— if  be  can 3.7 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
THE  TRAMP'S  STORY,  AXD  BLOT-XT'S  OPINIONS, 

A.  USELESS  class.  How  the  tramps  live.  A  story  by  the  leader.  Eonke 
Blount's  early  history.  The  "  orffin."  How  she  came  into  Blount's 
hands.  Her  prospects.  The  new-comer  from  Boston.  The  lovers. 
WUl  they  wed?  *'  That's  what's  the  matter,  up  at  Snnnyskle  farm, 
lads."  Old  Blount's  opinions.  Raising  mushrooms.  "A  cure  for 
the  potato-bug."  The  farmer  makes  his  points  and  the  BrandviDo 
postmaster  notes  them  down.  Simon  Slow  gathers  a  new  wrinkle, 
wmle  Morris  is  pleased  with  his  employer's  triiunph  .  .  .  .  33* 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVT. 

THE  FRIENDS  TOGETHER  AT  SUNNYSIDE. 

A  JOLLY  meeting  at  Sunnyside  Farm.  Frank  Meyers,  Reuben  Downer, 
Ely  Hawes,  Fred.  Fordham,  Fannie,  and  David  Morehead  visit  Mor 
ris  Deans,  at  old  Blount's  estate.  What  they  see,  and  what  they  do 
there.  "Old  times  —  when  we  were  poor!"  The  prospects  of  our 
heroes.  All  on  the  right  road,  at  last.  How  they  made  it  —  how 
they  saved  it  —  how  they  kept  it  — and  what  they  did  with  their  for 
tunes.  Frank  Meyers  proposes  to  Eunice.  How  she  replies.  The 
departure,  and  a  "  coming  event " »  »  .  362 

CHAPTER  XXVIL 

WHY  SHOULD   WE  NOT  HAVE    "  PANICS  "? 

ANOTHER  side  of  the  picture.  The  panics  of  '57  and  '73.  What  caused 
them,  mainly.  A  painful  record.  Facts  for  considerate  men.  Cor 
ruption  and  defalcation.  The  crimes  of  peculators,  speculators,  and 
public  robbers.  A  huge  "black  list"!  Why  we  experience  'hard 
times '  in  1875.  Millions  stolen,  squandered,  and  filched  from  the 
poor  and  middling  classes.  Counterfeiters,  treasury  robbers,  bank 
defaulters,  money  thieves,  and  their  victims.  Why  not  look  for 
chaos,  amidst  such  recklessness  V  .  .  ...  .  .  .  376 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS   IN  GOLD. 

MORE  than  a  hundred  thousand  dollars,  each,  for  our  heroes.  How  it 
was  earned  —  and  how  it  was  saved.  The  true  principle,  and  the 
right  method.  Who  are  these  men  ?  "  Go,  thou  -  and  do  likewise." 
—  The  wedding  at  the  farm.  Who  wins  the  rustic  beauty,  at  last? 
A  happy  time  at  Sunnyside.  All  hands  present.  The  beautiful  bride 
and  her  gallant  husband.  The  fate  of  Morris,  Eunice,  Frank,  Ely, 
Reuben,  David,  Fannie-,  Fred.,  Farmer  Blount,  and  Deacon  Rounds. 
The  bridal  tour,  Niagara  and  the  White  Mountains.  Little  "  Daisie 
Deans."  Four  years  afterwards.  "  Spot,"  and  the  boy  baby.  — 
Finale 393 


DOUJUS  IK  GOtO, 

HOW  TO   MAKE   IT. 


HM  —  TIIE  BELLE  OF   BKAXDVILLK. 


A  HUNDBED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD, 

HOW  TO   MAKE  IT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A   FEW  NOTABLE   AMERICAN   MILLIONN  AIRES. 


1  Gold,  gold  —  hard  and  cold !  heavy  to  get,  and  light  to  hold  — 
Hoarded,  bartered,  bought  and  sold;  stolen,  borrowed,  wasted,  doled!  " 
But,  best  of  all  is  well-earned  gold,  to  soothe  the  years  as  we  grow  old. 
Then,  save  the  shining  yellow  gold—  ever  so  grateful  to  behold  — 
So  "  handy  in  the  house  "  we're  told.    For  now,  I  ween,  'mongst  young  or  old. 
There's  none  about  so  dull  and  cold,  to  scorn  a  hundred  thousand,  gold. 


THE  male  portion  of  the  population  of  the  United 
States  is  made  up  largely  of  two  distinct  classes  of  peo 
ple  —  to  wit,  the  inert  do-nothings,  and  the  ambitious 
do-somethings ;  the  latter  sort  among  us  fortunately 
being  very  considerably  in  the  majority. 

"  _T  cant  do  it"  never  yet -accomplished  any  thing,  in 
this  busy  driving  world  of  ours ;  "  I  WILL  TRY,"  has 
performed  wonders — as  history  and  experience  has  fully 
attested,  in  the  past  as  well  as  in  more  recent  American 
annals. 

17 


18  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN   GOLD. 

The  reader's  attention  is  invited  to  a  few  patent  facts, 
at  the  outset  of  this  work,  covering  what  is  not  univer 
sally  known  of  even  these  notable  instances  of  colossal 
wealth,  to-day  possessed  by  some  of  our  "  merchant 
princes,"  who  began  their  business  lives  with  but  little  or 
very  moderate  pecuniary  means. 

The  millionnaire  Alexander  T.  Stewart  of  New  York, 
whose  individual  property  is  now  reckoned  at  a  valuation 
of  sixty  to  eighty  millions,  commenced  life  in  a  small 
retail  dry  goods  store  on  lower  Broadway,  less  than  half  a 
century  ago,  with  scarcely  a  hundred  dollars  to  his  name. 

He  was  a  diligent,  sedulous  worker,  however.  A  man 
of  brains,  courage,  ardor,  and  determination  to  win  his 
way.  An  honorable,  upright,  industrious,  frugal  man,  as 
well  —  who,  when  he  had  been  a  dozen  years  in  trade, 
had  accumulated  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
which  he  saved  and  husbanded,  and  increased,  through 
persistent  care  and  earnest  devotion  to  his  calling,  until 
at  last  he  has  come  to  be  beyond  comparison  the  richest 
merchant  in  the  United  States. 

As  a  rule,  it  is  certainly  encouraging  to  contemplate  the 
reality  of  the  fact  asserted  by  Emerson,  that  "man  is 
born  to  be  rich,  or  that  he  inevitably  grows  rich  by  the 
rightful  use  of  kis  best  faculties."  Yet  a  too  eager  pur 
suit  of  fortune,  ordinarily,  is  inconsistent  with  a  severe 
devotion  to  truth ;  while  the  Bible  tells  us  how  "  he  that 
maketh  haste  to  be  rich,  shall  not  be  innocent." 

And,  although  Providence  has  decreed  that  the  common 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  19 

acquisitions  we  aim  to  become  possessed  of  —  to  wit, 
money,  grand  houses,  and  dominion  —  are  not  infrequently 
bestowed  on  the  inert  or  indolent,  still  all  those  things 
which  go  to  make  up  true  riches,  must  be  attained  through 
our  own  labor,  and  the  skilful  application  of  our  own 
talents  to  the  proper  improvement  and  advancement  of 
our  condition  in  life. 

In  the  case  just  now  quoted,  the  subject  spoken  of  was 
a  young  Irishman,  who  arrived  in  America  without  friends 
upon  this  side  of,  the  Atlantic,  without  money,  without 
business  experience,  and  possessing  no  iota  of  advantage 
over  thousands  of  the  young  men  of  that  time,  or  those 
of  to-day,  in  this  country. 

But  he  had  laudably  resolved  to  "  make  his  fortune  ;  " 
and  what  he  lacked  in  commercial  knowledge,  or  ready 
means,  he  brought  with  him  in  soundness  of  head  and 
heart.  He  was  industriously  inclined,  and  honest  in 
purpose,  and  these  good  qualities  gave  him  a  fortunate 
send-off. 

Mr.  Stewart  gathered  a  little  stock  of  goods,  from  time 
to  time,  and  devoted  himself  at  first  two-thirds  of  every 
twenty-four  hours,  for  years,  to  his  store  duties.  He  was 
the  first  man  in  New  York  who  announced  the  nowadays 
common  newspaper  notice  we  meet  with,  daily,  "  Every 
thing  marked  down  to  cost,  for  cash ! "  And  the  result 
of  this  original  plan  to  turn  his  cheap  stock  into  gold 
surprised  him,  agreeably.  His  shop  was  directly  crowded 
with  eager  cash  customers,  his  shelves  and  counters  were 


20         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IX  GOLD. 

emptied,  at  a  profit,  his  money-drawers  were  filled,  and 
from  that  time  he  commenced  the  steady  ascent  toward 
the  acquisition  of  the  splendid  fortune  he  is  now  n: 
of — and  which  places  him,  as  we  have  said,  pecuniarily  at 
the  head  of  the  list  of  American  merchant  princes. 

The  late  Stephen  Girard,  of  Philadelphia,  was  another 
instance  of  like  sort.  He  commenced  his  remarkably  suc 
cessful  career  a  poor  laboring  man,  and  after  an  active 
business  life,  the  years  of  which  were  devoted  to  earnest 
steady  work,  Girard  died  worth  millions ;  and  he  left  a 
creditable  fame  behind  him,  as  one  who  had  ••  begun  from 
very  small  beginnings,"  but  who  prospered  wondrously 
through  his  own  continuous  well  directed  efforts  to  con 
quer  fortune  —  from  the  outset. 

John  Jacob  Astor's  history  is  more  familiarly  known  to 
most  Americans.  This  man  was  "  a  poor  Dutchman  in 
Manhattan,"  who  began  with  a  few  dollars,  and  after  years 
of  hard  toil,  sturdy  application,  and  honest  dealing  in  a 
small  way,  he  went  forward  with  rapid  strides,  until  he 
could  count  his  thousands  by  hundreds;  and  eventually 
bequeathed  to  his  sons  many  millions  —  since  swelled 
through  the  skilful  management  of  his  successors  to 
the  largest  solid  real  estate  fortune,  unquestionably,  in 
tLis  country. 

Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  whose  estate  is  variously  estimat 
ed  to  be  worth  up  to  half  a  hundred  millions  or  more,  in 
round  numbers,  was  forty  years  ago  possessed  of  but 
indifferent  means.  He  has  been  a  continuous  worker  — 


now  TO  MAKF  IT.  21 

band  and  brain  —  from  the  beginning.  And  his  present 
enormous  wealth  affords  another  instance  of  the  result  to 
be  attained  by  genius,  pluck,  hard  work,  good  manage 
ment,  and  a  straightforward  course  of  honorable  dealing 
towards  one's  fellow-men. 

Mr.  Vanderbilt  has  had  his  '  ups  and  downs.'  In  his 
peculiar  sphere  of  business,  he  has  assumed  large  risks,  and 
oftentimes  his  fortune  has  *  vacillated  in  the  balance,' 
through  his  daring  mode  of  operations.  But  he  has  won  — 
in  the  end.  And  to-day  he  may  look  back  upon  a  busy 
changeful  career,  indeed,  but  his  reputation  as  a  shrewd, 
sound,  thorough,  far-sighted  business-man  from  the  begin 
ning,  can  never  be  gain-said. 

Some  thirty  years  ago,  William  B.  Dinsmore,  of  New 
York  —  now  at  the  head  of  the  Adams  Express  Company 
—  came  from  northern  New  England  a  poor  young  man, 
in  search  of  an  opportunity  to  begin  the  world,  advan 
tageously.  Uniting  with  Alvin  Adams  of  Boston  (after 
whom  this  great  Company  is  named,)  he  entered  upon 
duty  in  Mr.  A.'s  employ,  at  board-wages,  in  the  then 
novel  business  of  running  a  "  parcel  express  "  from  Boston 
to  New  York.  Neither  Mr.  Dinsmore  nor  Mr.  Adams  was 
at  that  period  overburdened  with  ready  money.  But  both 
were  young  men  of  courage,  stamina,  determination,  and 
good  business  capacity. 

Alvin  Adams  was  a  pioneer  in  the  Express  business, 
following  at  an  early  day  the  work  commenced  by  W.  F. 
Harnden  —  who  died  in  January,  1845.  Mr.  Adams  came 


22  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

from  Vermont  a  young  man,  and  embarked  in  the  produce 
trade  in  Boston,  in  which  pursuit  he  lost  his  entire  means ; 
when  he  turned  his  attention  vigorously  to  this  new  voca 
tion  (then  quite  in  its  infancy)  which  for  three  or  four 
years  he  managed  almost  alone,  amidst  the  fluctuations 
of  a  trying  and  difficult  period. 

But  his  naturally  steadfast  and  determined  character 
carried  him  forward  to  eminent  success,  at  last  —  although 
the  first  few  years  of  his  experience  as  an  Express-man 
were  attended  with  most  disheartening  surroundings. 

But  he  had  faith  in  his  purpose.  And  though  the  novel 
undertaking  he  became  engaged  in  was  neither  encour 
aged  by  paying  patronage  for  a  while  nor  looked  upon 
by  other  men  at  that  time  as  probably  productive,  in  a 
pecuniary  view,  Mr.  A.  plodded  on  in  his  work  dutifully 
and  earnestly  from  the  start,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  his  enterprise  finally  an  exceptionally  promising 
and  flourishing  business. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Harnden,  the  Adams  Express 
became  an  "  institution."  He  subsequently  branched 
out,  and  uniting  with  W.  B.  Dinsmore,  these  two  active 
workers  made  their  new  mode  of  parcel-transportation  a 
positive  need  among  the  mercantile  men,  bankers,  brokers 
and  jewellers  of  New  England  and  New  York. 

The  routes  were  extended  to  Philadelphia  and  South  — 
at  last  to  California,  and  across  the  Atlantic.  And  to-day 
the  originators  of  this  now  indispensable  enterprise  are 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  esteemed  business-men  in 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  23 

this  country  —  who  have  earned  their  fortunes  and  their 
honors  through  persistent,  straightforward  devotion  to 
their  calling,  to  the  successful  end. 

Their  proposed  enterprise  was  at  first  deemed  a  prob 
lematical  undertaking,  by  outsiders.  Neither  admitted  "  I 
cannot  do  it,"  in  their  vocabulary,  but  both  said  "  /  will 
try"  Within  a  dozen  years,  they  each  had  upwards  of  a 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold  to  their  credit  in  the 
banks  of  New  York  and  Boston  (as  we  can  avouch,)  and 
to-day,  the  honorably  earned  fortune  of  either  of  these 
gentlemen  is  counted  up  among  the  millions.  They  began 
at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  and  steadily  step  by  step  they 
have  ascended  to  the  topmost  round,  as  successful  busi 
ness-men. 

A  little  more  than  twenty-five  years  ago,  we  happen  to 
know  that  Robert  Bonner  (of  the  New  York  Ledger) 
was  as  poor  in  purse  as  most  of  us  would  care  to  be.  But 
he  was  as  shrewd  as  ever  was  Scotch-Irishman,  (for  this 
was  his  nativity),  and  as  sharp  as  the  veriest  Yankee  that 
ever  dwelt  in  or  quitted  old  Connecticut.  Withal,  Mr. 
Bonner  was  a  man  of  untiring  energy,  carried  a  level 
business  head  on  his  shoulders,  was  indomitably  persever 
ing,  and  possessed  the  courage  and  manliness  to  conceive 
and  follow  the  right  —  every  time. 

He  went  to  New  York  a  poor  but  industrious  and 
capable  printer.  After  a  few  years  of  toil,  he  bought  out 
the  "  Merchants'  Ledger "  (then  a  sickly  commercial 
sheet)  and  went  to  work  with  a  will  to  make  his  paper  a 


24  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

leading  literary  weekly.  In  less  than  ten  years,  he 
"  owed  no  man  a  dollar,"  and  was  the  rightful  possessor 
of  twice  "a  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold,"  honorably 
earned  through  steady  application  of  brains,  and  the  exer 
cise  of  earnest  sound  judgment,  in  an  enterprise  that  was 
his  own  —  literally,  from  the  start. 

Besides  making  the  fortunes  of  several  of  those  who 
have  served  him  for  years  as  contributors  to  his  u  New 
York  Ledger,"  Mr.  Bonner  has  paid  hundreds  of  thou 
sands  of  dollars  in  those  years  to  other  parties,  for  adver 
tising.  He  is  to-day  the  owner  of  a  stud  of  horses  that 
alone  cost  him  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  more,  and  is 
a  million naire  besides  —  in  solid  property,  over  all.  An 
other  remarkable  result  of  capacity,  vim,  self-reliance,  and 
honorable  well-directed  business  tact. 

Is  there  anybody  who  .has  never  heard  of  or  seen 
Phineas  T.  Barnum,  Esq.,  the  showman  —  now  Mayor  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn.  ?  We  should  say  there  is  not  —  at 
least  in  this  country  !  Well.  He  is  another  Connecticut 
Yankee  —  in  the  grain.  About  thirty  years  ago,  with  a 
purse  so  light  that  he  could  count  the  number  of  shillings 
it  contained,  in  a  single  breath,  Mr.  Barnum  concluded  to 
purchase  the  American  Museum,  in  New  York  —  which 
was  then  offered  for  sale,  (at  Scudder's  death)  for  $15,000. 
And  when  some  friend  who  knew  the  impoverished  condi- 
dition  of  Mr.  B.,  asked  him  what  he  intended  to  buy  this 
establishment  with,  he  answered  good-naturedly,  u  With 
brass.  For  gold  or  silver  have  I  none."  And  so  he  did  ! 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  25 

He  bought  it  "  on  time,"  went  about  the  fostering  of  his 
enterprise  with  skill  and  good  judgment,  worked  like  a 
beaver  for  seven  years,  paid  for  his  Museum,  and  another 
bigger  one,  and  continued  on  with  giant  strides  toward 
a  generous  fortune. 

Then  came  Tom  Thumb,  Joice  Heth,  and  Jenny  Lind 
—  at  last.  And  now  —  at  the  head  of  his  colossal  Hippo 
drome  —  the  once  "  poor  Barnum "  is  a  millionnaire, 
among  the  rest.  And  he  owes  this  triumph1  and  his  ample 
fortune  to  his  own  tact,  his  industry,  his  perseverance,  and 
his  ready  wit. 

John  Listar,  an  Englishman,  adopted  an  original  mode 
to  make  a  fortune,  from  a  very  trivial  beginning.  Mr. 
Listar  took  it  into  his  head  that  there  were  "  millions  in 
it,"  more  or  less,  and  many  years  ago  he  concluded  to 
attempt  to  utilize  common  silk  rags,  which  he  purchased 
vast  quantities  of,  and  experimented  with. 

At  the  outset,  he  bought  all  the  silks  rags  he  could  find, 
at  a  cent  a  pound,  and  up  to  about  1865  he  actually 
expended  over  a  million  of  dollars,  first  and  last,  and 
spent  years  of  study  and  toil  over  his  project  —  but  with 
out  success.  He  had  sought  to  turn  these  rags  into  velvet, 
and  believed  in  his  scheme,  though  he  was  not  rewarded 
for  a  long  period,  in  his  pursuit. 

Never  daunted  however  with  the  difficulties  he  encoun 
tered,  he  persevered  in  his  chosen  work,  and  eventually 
hit  upon  a  successful  process ;  and  within  the  last  ten 
years  he  discovered  and  put  into  practice  a  method  of  con- 


26  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

verting  this  silk  refuse  into  velvet  of  the  choicest  quality. 
This  patient  untiring  application  to  his  one  idea  has 
resulted  in  making  him  very  wealthy,  while  he  now 
manufactures  profitably,  from  silk  rags,  the  finest  velvet 
produced  in  England. 

Mr.  Charles  Knox  (who  has  not  heard  of  "  Knox,  the 
New  York  hatter "  ?)  commenced  his  career  without  a 
shilling,  in  1845,  thirty  years  since,  in  a  small  shop  in 
Fulton  Street.  He  served  his  apprenticeship  with  Leary, 
at  the  trade.  For  ten  years,  after  '45,  he  went  on  slowly 
but  surely,  and  then  "  branched  out,"  with  rare  success. 

In  1855,  he  employed  six  hundred  hands  in  his  establish 
ment.  He  worked  himself  as  ardently  as  did  the  others, 
and  he  kept  everybody  about  him  busy.  In  fifteen  years 
he  had  amassed  over  "  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  in 
gold,"  and  is  the  wealthiest  man  —  in  his  line  of  trade  — 
to-day,  in  America.  He  had  brains,  too,  naturally ;  and 
he  possessed  the  talents  to  push  his  way  up  to  success, 
honorably,  dutifully,  and  always  genially  and  temperately 
—  with  a  devotedness  to  business  rarely  equalled,  and 
never  excelled. 

"  But  all  these  millionnaires  were  lucky"  I  hear  it  per 
haps  suggested,  by  the  superficial  reader.  Now  this  I 
deem  mere  fallacy. 

Who  ever  heard  of  or  knew  a  diligent  worker,  an  early 
riser,  a  prudent  young  man,  who  was  careful  of  his  earn 
ings  or  his  gains  —  and  honest,  withal  —  who  had  cause  to 
prate  about  "  luck,"  good  or  ill  ? 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  27 

There  is  no  such  thing  in  real  life  as  "mere  luck." 
Only  the  shallow-brains  believe  in  luck  —  or  circum 
stances.  Good  men,  strong  men,  stout  hearts,  clear  heads, 
brave  souls  believe  in  cause  and  effect ;  for  there  are  no 
chances  so  unlucky  from  which  really  clever  people  may 
not  be  able  to  reap  some  advantage.  And  none  are  so 
4  lucky  '  that  there  will  not  be  found  plenty  of  indolent 
or  brainless  fools  who  may  turn  them  to  their  own  dis 
advantage. 

"  Luck "  waits,  like  Micawber,  for  something  to  turn 
up.  Labor,  genius,  tact  turns  something  up.  Luck 
whines  and  croaks.  Genius  sings  and  whistles.  Luck 
waits  on  chance,  or  '  providence ; '  labor  on  character. 
Luck  halts,  and  craves  Heaven's  aid  —  when  Heaven 
never  helps  those  who  neglect  to  help  themselves. 

We  might  point  to  scores  of  other  instances  of  well- 
known  self-made  men,  who  have  come  up  through  their 
own  energies,  unaided  in  the  beginning  by  money,  or 
capital,  to  the  possession  of  splendid  fortunes. 

To  say  nothing  in  detail  of  other  millionnaires  —  the 
Lorillards,  the  Brandreths,  the  Schencks,  the  Jaynes,  the 
Wanamakers,  the  Simmonses,  the  Holloways,  the  Childs', 
the  Petersons,  the  Lawrences,  the  Longworths,  the  Shaws, 
the  Grovers,  the  Singers,  the  Hoes,  the  Wilsons,  the  Ben 
netts,  the  Potters,  the  Beaches,  the  Greeleys,  the  Scran- 
tons,  the  Vicks,  the  Judds,  the  Demorests,  and  a  thousand 
others  —  to  some  of  whom  we  shall  find  occasion  to  refer, 
hereafter,  in  this  volume,  more  at  length  —  we  conclude 


28         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

this  opening  chapter  with  the  record  of  one  more  instance 
of  "  luck  through  pluck ;  "  with  the  subject  of  which  we 
were  personally  well  acquainted,  for  many  years. 

We  well  remember  meeting  Elias  Howe,  the  original 
sewing-machine  man,  one  clay,  in  the  store  of  a  fashionable 
tailor  on  Tremont  Row,  Boston,  about  twenty-five  years 
ago,  where  the  famous  originator  of  "  the  needle  with  the 
eye  near  the  point "  happened  to  be  present,  with  his 
first  machine  in  his  hands  —  which  he  was  exhibiting  in 
this  establishment,  at  the  time. 

Mr.  Howe  went  out  of  the  store,  in  a  melancholy  mood. 

"  What  has  he  got  ?  "  we  inquired. 

"  A  new-fangled  machine,"  said  our  friend. 

"  For  what  ?  " 

"  A  sewing-machine,  he  calls  it." 

"To  sew  with?" 

"Yes  —  so  Elias  fancies.  But  it  is  not  worth  a  four- 
pence.  One  of  his  gimcracks,  that  he  is  crazy  over.  It 
will  never  come  to  any  thing." 

"  And  Howe  is  very  poor,  too  ?  " 

"  Poorer  than  a  church-mouse  I  He  can't  pay  his  bread- 
bill,  to  the  baker,  to-day." 

"  But  he  is  in  earnest,  determined,  ingenious,  and  an 
honest  man." 

"  That  is  so.  I  really  hope  he  may  succeed  in  life.  He 
never  can  do  any  thing  with  that  thing,  however,"  con 
cluded  our  friend,  wisely,  as  he  then  fancied. 

Well.      This    identical    sewing-machine,    which    Elias 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT.  29 

Howe  was  at  that  time  toting  about  under  his  arm,  and 
boring  his  friends  with  a  description  of,  which  has  since 
been  exhibited  all  over  the  world,  may  be  seen  to-day  at 
the  Howe  Sewing-machine  Co.'s  office,  on  Broadway,  New 
York ;  and  shortly  after  the  above  occurrence  took  place, 
Mr.  Howe  had  a  dozen  machines  built  in  a  shop  in  Gold 
Street,  in  that  city. 

These  were  sold  to  a  bootmaker  in  Massachusetts. 
They  were  a  success.  And  he  went  on  slowly  —  toiling, 
working,  studying,  experimenting,  and  perfecting  —  while 
he  fought  infringers,  and  for  seven  years  almost  starving 
—  when  his  receipts  began  to  reach  a  few  hundreds  of 
dollars,  net,  annually,  and  then  some  thousands.  And 
within  twelve  years  thereafter,  his  income  was  over  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold,  per  year ! 

The  factory  run  by  the  Howe  Company  (Elias's  suc 
cessors)  at  last  accounts  employed  nearly  a  thousand 
operatives,  the  sales  reach  two  millions  and  a  half  a 
year,  twenty  thousand  of  these  machines  are  sold  in 
foreign  countries  —  and  the  profits  are  enormous.  So 
much  for  Elias  Howe  —  another  man  of  brains  and  zeal 
and  courage. 

These  instances  we  open  with.  All  these  are  million- 
naires.  A  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  any  one  of  these 
mentioned  parties,  in  the  height  of  the  eventual  success 
which  attended  their  vigorous  and  determined  efforts, 
would  be  a  mere  '  drop  in  the  bucket '  of  their  wealth. 
And  yet  not  one  of  them  began  the  world  with  scarcely  a 
dollar  in  ready  money. 


30         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Erastus  Fairbanks,  of  "  Platform  Scale  "  notoriety,  died 
wealthy  and  honored  —  but  his  early  life  was  a  succession 
of  hard  struggles  and  privations.  His  brothers  Thaddeus 
and  Joseph  P.  who  succeeded  him,  had  their  up-hill  course, 
too,  for  years.  Horace  and  Franklin  Fairbanks,  now  at 
the  head  of  this  vast  enterprise,  have  latterly  become 
among  the  wealthiest  and  most  prosperous  inventors  in 
America.  John  F.  Henry,  a  leading  American  druggist, 
began  twenty  years  ago  with  a  few  dollars,  and  to-day  is 
counted  among  the  "  heavy  men  "  of  capital  in  New  York. 
Forty-odd  years  since,  James  Gordon  Bennett  —  previously 
in  association  with  Major  Noah,  Jas.  Watson  Webb, 
and  Horace  Greeley  —  was  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs, 
pecuniarily.  He  inaugurated  the  u  N.  Y.  Herald  "  amidst 
most  inauspicious  times,  and  under  the  most  unpromising 
circumstances.  But  he  went  onward  and  upward  to  the 
grandest  pecuniary  success,  from  a  very  trivial  beginning,, 
and  died  worth  millions. 

Geo.  W.  Childs  of  the  Philadelphia  "  Public  Ledger," 
is  another  instance  of  similar  rare  success,  through  indi 
vidual  effort.  Mr.  Chiids  went  to  Philadelphia  thirty 
years  ago,  a  friendless  lad,  and  began  life  as  a  shop-boy 
with  a  bookseller.  He  became  a  partner  in  this  house, 
subsequently,  then  purchased  the  "  Ledger  "  newspaper, 
and  has  honorably  risen  in  less  than  twenty  years  to  be  a 
millionnaire.  Chas.  A.  Shaw  of  Biddeford,  Me.,  from  early 
boyhood  has  been  a  toiler,  and  inventor.  He  has  seen  the 
rough  side  of  life  —  but  he  has  gone  up  from  poverty  to 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  31 

wealth  with  steady  strides,  through  earnest  application, 
and  energies  constantly  devoted  to  attaining  an  honorable 
competency  and  merited  position.  Dr.  Joseph  H.  Schenck, 
who  commenced  life  upon  a  tailor's  board,  and  afterwards 
established  himself  in  Philadelphia,  and  introduced  the 
famous  "  Seaweed  Tonic  "  and  other  medical  preparations 
bearing  his  name  as  discoverer  —  started  with  nothing. 
After  thirty  years  of  hard  work  and  careful  management, 
he  is  now  immensely  rich,  and  stands  at  the  head  of  his 
profession,  in  Philadelphia,  near  where  he  now  resides  in 
splendor  and  ease.  Thirty-five  years  ago,  T.  B.  Peterson, 
the  great  Philadelphia  publisher,  was  a  journeyman  printer, 
at  the  case.  Now  he  is  at  the  head  of  a  flourishing  book- 
house  known  the  world  over,  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
splendid  income,  from  property  accumulated  by  his  own 
honest,  vigorous,  skilful  efforts,  in  the  legitimate  business 
he  has  made  himself  master  of. 

An  interesting  leading  article  recently  in  the  New  York 
Weekly,  on  the  subject  of  "  self-made  men,"  pointedly 
observes  that  u  when  we  glance  over  the  long  list  of 
characters  (in  the  Old  as  well  as  the  New  world)  who  have 
raised  themselves  through  their  own  efforts  to  eminence, 
it  would  seem  as  though  there  are  certain  ennobling  quali 
ties,  to  produce  which,  a  soil  of  privation  and  poverty  is 
requisite." 

A  large  number  of  these  poverty-stricken  men  in  early 
life  is  mentioned,  who  subsequently  rose  to  wealth  and 
standing  through  their  own  latent  talents,  unaided  by 


32  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

fortune  or  influence  outside  of  the  humble  sphere  they 
severally  occupied  for  many  of  the  first  years  of  their 
existence  ;  but  who  struck  out  for  themselves  and  found 
their  opportunity,  which  they  diligently  improved  and 
followed  out  —  at  last  —  to  pre-eminent  success. 

Of  these  we  may  refer  to  Hans  Christian  Andersen,  the 
popular  Danish  poet,  recently  deceased,  who  was  the  son 
of  a  poor  shoemaker,  and  who  came  near  starving  to 
death,  in  his  youth.  Raphael  Carrera,  the  opulent  Presi 
dent  of  the  Republic  of  Guatemala,  commenced  his  career 
in  life  as  a  drummer-boy.  Dumas,  the  rich  novelist  and 
play-writer,  was  an  illegitimate  son  of  a  West  Indian 
planter  and  negress,  and  was  in  a  starving  condition  in 
Paris,  until,  through  his  own  exertions  he  worked  his  way 
up  to  success.  Herring,  the  wealthy  animal  painter,  began 
his  "art  life"  as  a  painter  of  signs.  Sir  Richard  Ark- 
wright,  the  noted  English  inventor,  was  at  first  a  barber's 
apprentice.  Charles  Dickens,  in  his  young  years,  was  a 
strolling  actor  and  news-reporter.  Stansfield,  the  famous 
landscapist,  was  a  common  foremast  hand  on  shipboard, 
many  years. 

John  Bunyan,  the  illustrious  author  of  "  Pilgrim's 
Progress,"  was  a  tinker.  M.  Thiers,  the  well  known 
scholastic  French  Minister,' was  a  charity -boy,  and  after 
wards  a  printer's  "  devil."  Johannes  Rouge,  the  great 
leader  in  the  German  Catholic  movement,  was  a  poor 
shepherd-boy.  De  Foe,  the  popular  author  of  "  Robinson 
Crusoe,"  was  a  butcher's  boy.  Marshal  Ney,  Duke  of 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  33 

Elchingen  —  whom  Napoleon  I.  named  "bravest  of  the 
brave,"  was  by  trade  a  cooper.  Christopher  Columbus,  a 
poor  Italian  sailor-lad,  was  the  discoverer  of  a  continent. 
Mons.  Daguerre  —  of  original  "  daguerrotype  "  process 
fame,  was  early  in  life  a  poor  scene  painter.  Captain 
Cook,  the  renowned  navigator,  was  but  a  common  sailor, 
at  first.  Tom  Hood,  the  famous  English  humorist  and 
poet,  was  brought  up  to  the  engraver's  trade. 

Among  distinguished  Americans,  may  be  mentioned 
Elihu  Burritt,  the  blacksmith's  apprentice,  known  to-day 
the  world  over  as  the  foremost  linguist  of  the  age.  Andrew 
Jackson,  the  successful  General  and  President  of  the 
United  States,  came  of  Irish  emigrant  parentage.  Henry 
Clay  of  Kentucky  was  in  his  early  years  an  humble  clerk 
in  a  local  Court  in  Virginia.  Abraham  Lincoln,  President, 
was  born  amidst  poverty  and  want.  Henry  Wilson,  Vice 
president  of  the  United  States,  was  a  poor  shoemaker, 
but  a  few  years  ago.  Daniel  Webster,  the  renowned 
American  statesman,  was  a  poor  farmer's  son.  Andy 
Johnson,  Vice-president  and  President,  commenced  his 
career  upon  a  tailor's  bench.  Horace  Mann,  the  eminent 
educationist,  was  reared  in  poverty.  Benjamin  Franklin, 
the  philosopher,  was  a  soap-boiler  and  tallow-chandler,  in 
Jiis  early  experience.  Horace  Greeley  was  a  printer's 
apprentice,  but  rose  to  the  highest  rank  in  journalism. 
Robert  Owen,  the  brilliant  philanthropist,  was  a  poor 
shop-boy  in  a  grocer's  establishment.  N.  P.  Banks,  the 
distinguished  statesman,  was  a  toiling  machinist,  during 


34         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

his  minority  —  afterwards  Governor,  Congressman,  and 
Speaker  of  the  House,  at  Washington.  Phil.  Sheridan, 
Lieut.  General  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  was  formerly  a  street 
news-boy.  Nath'l  Greene,  the  great  American  general, 
was  in  early  life  a  journeyman  blacksmith.  Gen.  U.  S. 
Grant,  President,  was  a  few  years  since  engaged  as  a 
leather-tanner,  in  the  western  country.  Wm.  Lloyd 
Garrison  served  his  apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  a  cabi 
net-maker.  John  C.  Calhoun,  the  great  Southern  states 
man,  was  the  son  of  an  Irish  emigrant. 

All  these  eminent  men  in  after  life  —  though  some  of 
them  did  not  acquire  great  pecuniary  riches  —  began  their 
several  careers  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder  without  means, 
and  all  went  up  to  proud  eminence,  or  wealth,  or  high 
position,  through  their  own  exertions.  And  we  might  go 
on  multiplying  interesting  examples  of  a  similar  character. 

Is  there  not  encouragement  in  these  facts  ?  encourage 
ment  for  the  poor  and  down-hearted,  and  also  a  rebuke  for 
those  who  constantly  harp  upon  the  wrongs  of  the  humble, 
and  the  impassable  barriers  between  high  and  low  ?  Each 
man  is  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune,  and  success  is 
ever  conquered  by  the  brave  and  persevering.  Though 
"  fortune  brings  in  some  boats  that  are  not  steered,"  still, 
as  a  rule,  the  mould  of  a  man's  fortune  is  in  his  own 
hands. 

There  are  in  the  community  many  young  men  who  fail 
to  see,  or  are  slow  to  believe,  that  the  success  we  have 
thus  noted  can  come,  to  other  young  men,  in  these  latei 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  35 

times,  as  it  came  to  the  representative  individuals  we  have 
alluded  to,  in  former  days. 

To  such  doubters  we  can  only  say  "  of  course  it  won't, 
if  you  do  not  try  it  on/'  Myriads  of  opportunities  that 
have  millions  in  them,  are  yet  to  be  discovered.  But  they 
must  be  sought  for.  These  "  chances  "  do  not  turn  up  of 
themselves.  They  must  be  turned  up,  by  the  earnest, 
determined,  willing,  active  workers  among  us — or  they 
remain  to  be  discovered  by  future  Girards,  or  Astors,  or 
Vanderbilts,  et  ah. 

A  remarkable  instance  in  point  is  reported  in  the  public 
journals  of  to-day.  A  marvellous  new  motive  power  is 
said  to  have  been  discovered  by  a  Mr.  Keeley,  which  the 
world  is  promised  the  benefit  of — now  that  it  is  asserted 
to  be  practically  perfected. 

This  invention,  after  long  years  of  study  and  experi 
ment,  is  described  as  a  mysterious  force  which  exerts 
from  three  to  twelve  thousand  pounds  to  the  square  inch 
in  propulsion,  and  is  under  perfect  control  of  the  operator. 

The  new  motive  power  referred  to  is  created  in  a  secret 
way,  in  a  small  machine  three  feet  by  two  —  without 
steam  or  electricity  —  and  it  is  claimed  that  it  will  propel 
a  train  of  a  dozen  cars  a  hundred  miles  without  replenish 
ing. 

The  force  is  generated  from  common  air  and  common 
water,  only  ;  and  the  discovery  promises  to  do  away  largely 
with  the  use  of  steam  locomotives  and  coal  upon  railways, 
as  well  as  steam  power  upon  ocean  and  river  boats !  If 


36         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

this  power  is  ever  practically  established,  what  are  the 
inventions  of  the  telegraph,  the  steam-engine,  the  sewing- 
machine  in  comparison  to  this  —  for  a  money-making 
project  ? 

Now  the  discoverer  did  not  bring  his  invention  to  this 
state  of  perfection  by  sitting  on  a  log  with  folded  hands 
and  declaring  "I  can't  do  it."  He  said  "I.  will  try" 
And  after  many  experiments  upon  a  limited  scale,  he  pro 
posed  in  the  summer  of  1875  to  put  a  machine  before 
twelve  Pullman  cars,  freighted  with  passengers,  and  at  a 
cost  of  a  few  dollars  only  to  run  such  a  train  from  Phila 
delphia  to  New  York  at  full  average  railway  speed,  with 
out  halting,  en  route. 

If  it  can  be  accomplished  —  as  the  inventor  confidently 
claims — this  is  another  wondrous  achievement  in  the 
current  march  of  improvement ;  and  demonstrates  our 
assertion  that  there  are  ample  chances  yet  for  brains 
and  courage  among  us.  But  we  must  turn  them  up. 

"  There  are  few  Stewarts,  Astors,  Vanderbilts,  or 
Girards,  to-day,"  we  fancy  we  hear  another  reader 
exclaim,  as  he  peruses  these  lines. 

This  may  be  true.  Yet  we  have  among  us  scores  and 
hundreds  like  the  others  herein  named ;  and  there  are  tens 
of  thousands  who  possess  their  "  hundred  thousand  dollars 
in  gold,"  who  have  earned  and  saved  it,  as  these  very 
men  gained  and  saved  their  millions  —  through  earnest 
work,  and  tact,  and  genius,  and  sound  resolution. 

To  this  latter  class  we  shall  turn  our  attention,  in  the 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  37 

succeeding  chapters  of  the  present  volume,  in  detail ; 
since  to  carry  out  the  points  in  our  chosen  title,  we  shall 
aim  herein  to  show  the  industriously  inclined  ambitious 
poor  young  man  "  how  he  may  make "  his  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  at  the  least,  through  profiting  by  the 
truthful  examples  adduced  in  the  pages  that  follow. 

These  cases  are  typical.  What  man  has  done,  man  may 
do  again.  In  the  progress  of  the  age  in  which  we  live, 
to-day,  there  occur  as  many  golden  opportunities,  and  far 
better  chances  for  the  coming  youth  to  build  a  fortune  on, 
than  could  have  existed  in  the  far-away  years  when  the 
successful  men  we  have  now  briefly  spoken  of,  began  their 
career. 

And  surely  among  the  American  people,  nowadays,  we 
have  hosts  of  young  men  as  shrewd,  as  keen,  as  sound, 
and  as  able  to  conquer  fortune,  as  were  the  early  men  we 
have  described,  with  their  meagre  opportunity  —  as  we 
shall  see. 


CHAPTER  H. 

THE   BEGINNING.       TOUCHING   HARD-PAN. 

THE  "  Great  Fire  "  in  New  York  city,  which  occurred 
about  the  middle  of  December  1835,  preceded  by  a  year 
or  more  the  famous  panic  of  '87 ;  which  last  event  car 
ried  disaster  and  ruin  to  so  many  merchants,  manufac 
turers  and  traders  in  America. 

This  conflagration  has  never  been  equalled  but  twice  in 
this  country,  in  extent  —  those  occurring  at  Chicago  and 
Boston,  (in  more  recent  years)  exceeding  the  New  York 
losses,  no  doubt,  very  largely. 

We  were  an  eye-witness  to  both  the  New  York  and  the 
Boston  '  great  fires ; '  and  on  the  former  occasion  we 
chanced  to  be  employed  in  a  large  house  having  its  head 
quarters  then  in  the  Merchants'  Exchange  building,  on 
Wall  Street  —  in  the  rear  of  which  magnificent  edifice 
the  memorable  burning  broke  out,  at  about  nine  P.M., 
upon  one  of  the  coldest  December  nights  ever  known  in 
New  York. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  terrible  visitation,  in  mid 
winter —  which  destroyed  the  whole  business  section  of 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  39 

tower  New  York  city  —  had  much  to  do  with  the  "panic  " 
that  so  soon  succeeded  this  unfortunate  event ;  for  thou 
sands  of  merchants,  brokers,  bankers  and  traders  were 
ruined  by  that  terrible, fire. 

The  few  years  immediately  preceding  the  commence 
ment  of  the  middle  of  the  present  century  —  culminating 
in  the  never-to-be-forgotten  monetary  panic  of  1837  in 
this  country  —  witnessed  more  failures  among  the  mer 
cantile  men  of  the  United  States,  and  especially  in  New 
York  and  New  England,  than  during  any  prior  period  in 
the  existence  of  this  people  as  a  nation. 

The  banks  in  all  directions  suspended.  Small  mer 
chants  succumbed  entirely,  and  larger  houses  went  hope 
lessly  under.  Traders  in  all  branches  of  commerce 
missed  the  faces  of  their  customary  patrons.  The  retail 
stores  were  comparatively  deserted  —  and  no  business  of 
any  description  was  transacting,  that  compared  with  that 
in  the  "good  times"  which  the  commercial  community 
had  enjoyed  for  years  preceding. 

There  was  no  money  to  be  had.  Specie  was  locked  up 
in  the  bank-vaults,  as  a  measure  of  self-protection  on  the 
part  of  those  institutions.  Accumulated  stocks  of  foreign 
goods  were  a  drug.  Domestic  fabrics  were  heaped  up 
in  the  leading  warehouses,  in  quantities  far  beyond  the 
present  or  immediately  prospective  needs  of  the  market. 
Factories  shut  down,  in  whole  or  in  part.  Operatives 
were  thrown  out  of  work.  Clerks  were  discharged,  and 
workmen  were  idle  —  by  thousands.  And  universal 
chaos  in  ordinary  traffic  seemed  to  have  come  again. 


40  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND   DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

Importations  halted,  and  exportations  came  to  a  stand 
still,  comparatively.  The  productions  of  our  Western 
fields  —  the  cereals  of  the  fertile  States  beyond  the  Ohio 
—  ceased  to  move,  in  consequence;  and  from  the  hitherto 
thriving  prosperous  and  busy  merchant  or  retailer  down 
to  the  farmers  the  mechanic,  the  factory-worker,  the  sales 
man  and  clerk,  the  field-hand  and  day-laborer,  the  'long 
shoreman,  the  shipper  or  sailor  —  landmen  or  seamen  — 
all  shared  in  the  generally  disastrous  final  break-down 
in  American  trade. 

Everybody  was  at  his  wits'  end,  and  no  two  persons 
could  seem  to  account  for  this  adversity,  upon  the  same 
theory.  Notes  went  to  protest,  the  wary  curtailed  their 
business  ramifications,  and  prudent  men  reduced  their 
family  and  store  expenses.  Credit  was  completely 
destroyed. 

The  few  who  had  means  quickly  locked  up  their  money, 
in  alarm.  The  many  who  had  only  their  hands  or  brains 
to  work  with,  could  find  no  remunerative  occupation  for 
either.  And,  imposing  upon  the  necessities  of  their  less 
fortunate  fellows,  the  speculators  and  sharpers  and  soul 
less  small  brokers  took  every  advantage  of  the  common 
disaster,  right  fiercely  —  whenever  and  wherever  the 
opportunity  presented  itself  to  avail  themselves  of  this 
rare  harvest  in  their  experience. 

As  is  customary,  at  such  times,  discharged  factory  hands 
of  both  sexes  crowded  their  way  into  the  cities  and  large 
towns,  and  these  were  supplemented  by  an  influx  of  un- 

i 


THE   YOUTH   WHO    BELIEVES   IX   "MERE   LUCK." 

"The  anxious  but  unambitious  l;ul  sits  by  the  wayside,  and  longingly  looks  into 
space  for  something  that  may  turn  up  to  his  future  advantage,  perhaps."  [CiiAp.  iii. 
pagL;  GG. 


DOW    TO    MAKE    IT.  43 

employed  mechanics,  in  all  trades.  —  While  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  "  young  men  from  the  country "  huddled 
down  to  the  great  centres  of  trade,  in  the  hope  of  getting 
something  to  do  to  support  life,  since  their  occupation  at 
home  was  gone,  and  they  were  unable  to  procure  a  living 
with  the  friends  among  whom  they  had  been  reared. 

In  the  midst  of  this  panic  and  universal  adversity,  we 
call  to  mind  many  a  case  of  woe  and  want  —  from  which 
large  number  we  select  the  careers  of  half  a  dozen  typi 
cal  characters,  to  illustrate  our  present  work;  each  one 
and  all  of  whom  we  had  the  opportunity  to  become  well 
acquainted  with  —  first  and  last  —  the  events  in  whose 
actual  lives  furnish  us  with  ample  material  in  the  way 
of  moral  to  adorn  our  present  tale. 

In  a  modest  city  boarding-house,  there  were  at  this 
period  three  young  men  of  different  ages,  each  of  whom 
had  begun  life  in  separate  establishments ;  but  all  of 
whom  found  themselves  at  about  the  same  time  out  of 
employment,  in  consequence  of  this  crash  in  the  prospects 
of  the  business  community. 

They  were  a  dry-goods  salesman  of  twenty-four ;  a  bro 
ker's  clerk  of  nineteen ;  and  a  talented  young  mechanic 
and  embryo  inventor  of  twenty-one  years  of  age.  The 
first  one  —  Frank  Meyers,  had  been  out  of  business,  since 
his  employers'  failure,  over  three  months.  The  second  — 
Morris  Deans,  had  but  recently  been  discharged  by  the 
broker,  for  economy's  sake.  The  third —  Ely  Hawes,  had 
been  struggling  two  or  three  years  without  success,  as  yet, 


44'  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

in  the  attempt  to  perfect  an  invention  he  had  conceived 
(but  had  not  yet  brought  out,  to  his  mind)  upon  which  he 
intended  one  day  or  another  to  obtain  a  patent — and 
afterwards  4  make  his  fortune  '  with. 

All  three  of  these  young  men  were  now  u  hard  up,"  so 
far  as  the  possession  of  the  needful  was  concerned.  They 
were  completely  out  of  funds.  And  the  prospect  before 
them  offered  to  neither  much  encouragement,  amidst  the 
distress  that  surrounded  them  on  every  side.  They  were 
every-day  friends  —  but,  alack!  neither  of  the  hopeful  trio 
had  it  in  his  power  to  assist  the  other,  much,  at  this 
appalling  hour. 

Their  accommodating  landlady  had  waited  upon  them, 
patiently,  but  she  had  got  to  the  point  where  the  grocer, 
the  butcher,  the.  baker,  and  the  candlestick-maker  had 
been  constrained  to  notify  her  that  they  must  have  money, 
or  they  should  be  compelled  to  "  shut  down  on  further 
supplies." 

But,  though  the  good  woman  carried  this  information  to 
her  guests,  the  three  young  men  could  not  respond  to  her 
delicately  expressed  desire  for  payment  of  their  over-due 
board  bills.  For,  what  could  they  do  ?  They  were  out 
of  work  —  they  could  get  nothing  to  do,  at  the  time, 
they  had  no  money.  And  they  could  not  pay. 

This  was  the  upshot  of  the  conference,  at  present. 

"  And  yet,"  said  Meyers,  feelingly  to  his  companions, 
"  it  is  rough  on  the  Widow  Bean  !  " 

"That's  a  fact,"  responds  the  boy  Deans.  "But  1 
can't  help  it,  just  now.  Can  you,  Hawes  ?  "  . 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  45 

"  Not  as  I  knows  of,"  replied  Ely,  coolly.  "  I  haven't 
earned  a  sixpence  in  ten  weeks.  And  I  don't  know  when 
I  shall  —  from  the  present  outlook." 

"How  conies  on  your  patent,  old  fellow?"  queried 
Meyers. 

"  Only  so-so,"  returned  Hawes.  "  But  it  will  come —  at 
last.  It's  a  question  of  time,  o'  course.  I've  got  it  all 
here"  he  continued,  hopefully,  touching  his  broad  full 
forehead.  "  And  one  o'  these  fine  days,  it'll  come  out,  all 
right." 

"  How  much  do  you  owe  the  widow  for  board,  Ely  ?  " 
asked  Meyers,  at  this  point. 

"  Eight  weeks." 

"  Thirty-two  dollars,"  said  the  clerk. 

"  Exactly,  my  boy  —  to  a  dot.     And  you  ?  " 

"  Six  weeks  —  thirty  dollars." 

"  And  Morris,  what  is  Goody  Bean's  claim  against 
you?" 

"  For  nine  weeks'  feed,  to-morrow." 

"  That  is  thirty-six  dollars  more." 

"  Precisely,"  returned  the  clerk. 

"  Ninety  -eight  dollars  then,  in  all,  we  three  stout 
healthy  able-bodied  young  men  owe  this  poor  widow,  for 
the  bread  and  meat  we  have  devoured  at  her  hospitable 
table." 

"  Call  it  a  round  hundred,"  ventured  the  lad  Morris, 
good  humoredly. 

"  And  she  can't  afford  to  be  kept  out  of  it,  my  dear 
fellows  —  sure's  you're  alive  "  —  added  Meyers. 


46         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  That's  so,  Frank,"  agreed  the  other  two.  "  But  what 
in  the  world  can  we  do  ?  I  wish  I  had  the  money  —  or 
knew  where  to  get  it.  But  I  don't,  Frank  —  for  my 
part,"  observed  Hawes. 

And  at  this  juncture,  the  three  young  men  ceased  to 
talk  upon  this  not  altogether  agreeable  subject  —  each 
turning  over  in  his  brain  the  probabilities  of  the  chances 
as  to  when  the  Widow  Bean  would  be  likely  to  be  gratified 
with  the  color  of  that  nearly  one  hundred  dollars,  hon 
estly  due  her,  up  to  that  hour. 

And  while  this  by-scene  was  transpiring  at  the  board 
ing-house,  another  similar  event  had  come  to  pass  —  from 
the  same  prime  cause  —  in  a  distant  part  of  this  same 
business-panic-stricken  city,  with  other  characters  whom 
we  will  here  introduce  to  the  reader. 

A  young  man  and  his  wife,  (with  two  sweet  babes) 
were  conversing  earnestly  that  morning  in  their  humble 
home. 

The  youthful  husband  had  just  come  from  the  chamber 
to  the  keeping-room,  with  a  little  box  the  wife  had  sent 
him  after.  And  he  said  tenderly,  "it  is  precious  hard, 
Fannie,  I  know  ;  but  these  are  mighty  hard  times,  I  can 
tell  you." 

"  That  is  true,  Fred.  I  see  it,  and  realize  it,  as  well  as 
you  do,"  returned  the  wife. " 

"  What  with  one  thing  and  another,  I  don't  see  that 
the  prospect  is  likely  to  grow  much  more  promising, 
either,  for  the  present." 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  47 

The  young  wife  sighed,  as  her  good-natured  husband 
placed  in  her  hand  the  small  jewel-box  containing  her 
simple  and  not  over  costly  wedding-set  of  jewelry. 

Upon  her  lap  lay  her  second  infant.  Behind  her  chair, 
their  first-born,  a  happy  mischievous  merry  girl  of  four 
3rears,  was  amusing  herself  with  her  kitten  and  toys, 
upon  the  carpet. 

The  youthful  parents  had  just  finished  their  frugal 
morning  meal.  And  Fred  had  brought  down  the  little 
jewel-casket,  containing  the  Etruscan  brooch,  the  ear 
drops,  and  the  bracelet  which  Fannie  Selwin,  (now  Mrs. 
Fannie  Fordham)  had  worn  upon  her  marriage-day,  the 
wedding  gift  of  her  kind  but  not  over  well-to-do  mother 
—  now  four  years  previously  dead  and  gone. 

Fred  Fordham  had  been  out  of  business  several  months. 
It  was  away  back,  in  the  panic  of  '37.  He  was  now 
entirely  minus  money.  The  rent  was  due,  the  grocer's 
bill  was  unpaid,  the  winter  was  cold,  the  fuel  was  gone, 
and  the  wedding-jewelry  of  Mrs.  Fannie  was  about  to  be 
sacrificed,  to  raise  a  little  ready  cash  to  "  tide  them  over  " 
the  pinch  they  encountered,  in  that  adverse  wintry  season. 

"It  is  hard  to  part  with  them,  Fred  "  said  the  wife, 
holding  the  box  in  her  hand,  and  taking  her  last  lingering 
look  at  the  pretty  bawbles.  "  But  you  must  take  them, 
and  get  the  most  you  can  for  them." 

"It  is  for  you,  Fannie  —  and  the  babies,"  said  Fred 
affectionately.  "/  could  get  on  —  somehow.  But  you 
and  our  little  ones  must  not  suffer." 


48         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  I  comprehend  it  all,  Fred,"  returned  the  wife 
"  Take  them.  They  will  bring  fifty  dollars  —  at  the  least. 
And  this  sum  will  greatly  help  us,  for  the  time  being." 

The  impoverished  husband  received  the  box  of  jewelry 
from  his  gentle  wife's  hand,  and  left  her  to  nurse  the 
infant  while  he  hurried  away  to  dispose  of  the  trinkets  — 
since  he  could  do  nothing,  now,  without  a  little  money  ; 
and  he  had  been  unable  to  earn  any  for  a  long  time, 
indeed,  in  his  experience. 

Fred  quickly  found  his  way  to  the  Square  where  were 
located  side  by  side  a  dozen  pawn-brokers'  shops. 

Over  the  door  of  the  principal  establishment,  there 
hung  three  gilded  balls — the  sign  of  the  Jew  who 
advanced  "ready  money  upon  old  gold  and  silver,"  (so 
his  card  read,)  and  who  "  paid  the  highest  prices  "  for 
these  genuine  articles. 

This  was  the  kind  of  purchaser  Fred  desired  to  meet. 
It  was  his  last  resource,  until  the  dreadful  times  changed. 
And  he  must  get  the  most  he  could,  this  time.  When 
these  ornaments  were  gone,  and  when  the  money  he 
obtained  for  them  was  expended —  what  next  ? 

There  were  no  more  ! 

But  Fred  was  sanguine,  and  hopeful.  Before  his  fifty 
or  sixty  dollars  now  about  to  be  realized  should  be  used 
up,  he  would  find  employment. 

At  least  he  hoped  so. 

Mr.  Isaacs,  the  Jew,  carried  a  head  on  his  high  round 
shoulders  not  unlike  that  of  a  fat  baboon.  He  was  merci- 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT.  49 

less  in  his  plan  of  extortion,  and  as  keen  as  a  brier  in  a 
trade. 

Ensconced  in  his  antiquated  wooden  chair,  behind  the 
iron  railing  beside  his  strong  box,  he  awaited  his  custom 
ers  with  a  stupid  expression  upon  his  hairy  face ;  but  he 
was  always  ready  to  advance  money  upon  good  security, 
and  knew  no  friendship  towards  Hebrew  or  Gentile,  in 
his  sharp  transactions.  He  bought  cheap,  and  sold  dear. 
And  this  was  the  way  Mr.  Isaacs  declared  he  contrived  to 
"  make  an  honest  dollar,"  from  time  to  time. 

This  man  examined  the  jewelry-set.  Then  he  scanned 
the  face  of  the  young  stranger  who  offered  them  for  sale. 
Then  he  said,  in  broken  English  — 

"  Vot  you  vant  vor  'ems  ?  " 

"  How  much  are  they  worth  ?  "  queried  Fred,  who  did 
not  know  what  their  real  value  might  be. 

"  Not  moosh,"  said  the  pawn-broker,  weighing  the  set. 

"  They  are  gold  ?  "  suggested  Fred.  "  And  good  gold, 
too  —  eh  ?  " 

"  Veil,  t'ey  may  pe  goot  colt,"  continued  the  sharper. 
"  I  ton't  shay  nottin'  apout  'ems.  Vot  you  ax  vor  'ems  ?  " 

"  I  would  like  to  get  a  hundred  dollars  for  them,"  ven 
tured  Fred.  "  They  cost  more  than  that,  a  few  years  ago, 
no  doubt." 

The  Jew  grinned  sarcastically  in  the  young  man's  face, 
and  pushed  the  jewelry  towards  him,  with  a  dubious  ex 
pression,  as  he  replied  — 

"  You  ton't  know  moosh  apout  t'ese  dings." 


50  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

"  No.  I  don't.  You  do,  probably.  What  will  you  give 
for  them  ?  " 

"  Veil,  t'ey  arn't  vort'  arf  a  under' d  tollers,  mine  fren." 

"  Not  fifty  !  "  exclaimed  Fred. 

"  No.     Nor  vorty." 

"  Will  you  give  me  forty  dollars  cash  for  them  ?  " 

"  I  ton't  vant  'ems." 

"  Not  at  forty  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  the  broker. 

"  How  much,  then?" 

'*  I  vill  giv'  you  dirty  tollers  vor  'ems.'* 

"  Thirty  dollars,  only  !  " 

"  Dat  ish  all.  An'  if  you  vants  'ems,  any  tay  mitin  von 
year,  you  can  hav'  'ems  ag'in,  vor  dirty-vife  tollers,"  con 
cluded  the  pawn-broker,  after  another  careful  scrutiny  of 
the  articles. 

The  sharper  meant  nothing  serious  in  this  assurance. 
He  knew  very  well  —  or  fancied  he  did  —  that  the  appli 
cant  was  forced  to  this  procedure,  and  that  he  probably 
would  never  return  to  reclaim  the  articles,  at  any  price. 

Fred  took  the  set  in  his  hand,  left  this  shop,  and  essayed 
to  trade  at  another  establishment,  near  by. 

After  trying  five  of  the  stores  in  the  neighborhood,  at 
neither  of  which  could  he  get  an  offer  exceeding  twenty- 
five  dollars,  he  returned  to  the  Jew  ;  who  received  him  as 
if  they  had  never  met  before. 

"  Vot  you  vants,  mine  fren'  ?  " 

"  You  may  have  them." 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  61 

"  Vot  pe  t'ey  ?  " 

"  At  thirty  dollars,  sir." 

«  Veil  —  vot  vor?" 

"  These  jewels." 

"  Zhooels  ?     Vot  you  call  'ems  ?  " 

"  I  showed  them  to  you  here  this  morning,"  said  Fred. 
"  You  offered  me  thirty  dollars  for  the  set." 

"  Dish  mornin'  ?  " 

"  Yes.     Don't  you  remember  ?  " 

"No,"  says  the  Jew.     "I  dinks  you  make  mishtake." 

"  O,  no !  Yours  is  the  only  shop  with  three  golden  balls 
over  the  door.  I  was  here  about  nine  o'clock,  to-day," 
replied  Fred,  wondering  what  this  old  shyster  was  driving 
at. 

He  handed  him  the  jewelry.  The  broker  weighed  the 
articles  again,  and  said,  as  if  he  had  never  seen  them 
until  that  moment,  "  I  dinks  t'ey  are  vort  dwendy-vore 
tollers." 

"  You  offered  me  thirty  dollars  for  them,  two  hours 
ago  !  "  said  Fred,  not  a  little  perplexed  at  this  treatment. 

"  I  ton't  vant  'ems !  "  continued  the  Jew,  turning  away. 
"  I  cannot  giv'  you  dirty  tollers  vor  'ems." 

"  What  is  the  most  you  will  give  ?  "  demanded  Fred, 
afraid  to  leave  him  again ;  and  supposing  that  if  he  tried 
any  of  the  parties  who  had  offered  him  twenty-five 
dollars  for  them,  they~  would  drop  to  twenty,  perhaps,  or 
less  —  upon  a  second  application. 

"  I  vill  give  you  dwendy-vife  tollers,"  said  the  Jew. 
"  But  not  another  shent." 


52  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLAJIS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Take  them,"  responded  Fred  exhausted,  and  out  of 
patience. 

And  with  twenty-five  dollars  in  cash,  he  returned  to  hi? 
wife  and  babies,  once  more. 

"  Is  that  all,  Fred  ?  "  asked  Fannie,  when  he  explained 
how  he  had  succeeded. 

"  Yes,  love.  And  this  was  the  best  I  could  do,  aftei 
trying  at  half  a  dozen  different  places." 

"  It  isn't  much,  Fred." 

"  No !     It  will  last  us  two  or  three  weeks,  however." 

"  And  then  ?  " 

"  Meantime,  I  shall  find  something  to  do  —  I  trust." 

"  I  hope  so,"  returned  Fannie.     "  But  —  if  not?  " 

"Then  I  will  leave  you  and  the  little  ones  —  and  go 
away  from  this  neighborhood,  somewhere,  and  'seek  my 
fortune,'  Fannie,"  said  the  good-natured  young  husband, 
in  his  customary  sanguine  tone. 

The  quiet  wife,  resigned  to  her  fate,  was  thoughtful ;  but 
she  did  not  "  borrow  trouble."  There  were  those  — as  she 
well  knew  —  worse  conditioned  than  herself ;  though  she 
also  knew  that  Fred  had  already  parted  with  all  his  own 
superfluities,  before  this,  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door. 

Now  they  had  almost  reached  hard-pan  —  thought  Fan 
nie  ! 

But  "  God  is  over  all,"  she  murmured,  hopefully. 
"  These  hard  times  can't  last  forever.  We  are  young,  in 
the  enjoyment  of  good  health,  and  Fred  has  brains  and 
capacity.  The  cloud  is  lowering  at  this  hour,  and  dark  — 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  53 

as  well.  Who  knows  but  it  has  its  silver  lining,  neverthe 
less  ?  " 

And  then  she  turned  to  the  pretty  infant  boy  upon  her 
lap,  and  forgot  the  gloom  that  had  momentarily  passed 
over  her  prospects,  as  she  tossed  the  chirping  babe  in  her 
arms ;  who,  amid  his  joyfulness,  seemed  to  call  back  the 
sunshine  in  her  heart,  which  this  transient  cloud  had 
shadowed. 

"  Halloo,  Fred  !  "  exclaimed  Fordham's  old  schoolmate, 
—  Meyers  —  meeting  the  hard-pressed  young  husband  as 
he  left  the  broker's  office,  with  his  five-and-twenty  dollars 
in  his  hand. 

The  youthful  father  had  just  come  from  the  shop  with 
what  he  had  been  able  to  obtain  from  the  merciless  jew, 
for  the  contents  of  his  wife's  jewel-box. 

He  didn't  care  to  expose  his  poverty  to  his  old  associate, 
though  he  knew  very  well  that  they  were  both  '  in  the 
same  boat'  so  far  as  their  business  prospects  were  in 
volved. 

44  How  are  you,  Frank?"  responded  Fordham,  cheer 
fully. 

"  Where  you  been,  Fred  ?  " 

"  In,  yonder." 

"  To  see  our  «  uncle,'  eh?  " 

"  Uncle  ?    No  —  he's  no  relation,  that  I  know  of." 

"  Isaacs,  isn't  it  ?  " 

44  Yes.  I  believe  that's  the  broker's  name.  He's  a 
confounded  old  jew. 


54  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Had  a  trade  with  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  a  small  one." 

"  And  he's  got  the  best  o'  the  bargain,  I'll  warrant." 

"  That's  so,  Frank !  " 

And  then  Fordham  briefly  told  his  former  chum  all 
about  his  little  affair  with  the  Israelite. 

"  Well  —  I'm  Sony  you  are  hard  up,  like  the  rest  of  us," 
observed  Meyers,  "  for  you  have  got  a  wife  and  two  babies 
to  look  out  for.  I  think  there's  two,  eh  —  Fred  ?  " 

"  Yes.  And  it's  mighty  hard  sledding,  just  now, 
Frank." 

"  Well  —  keep  up  heart,  old  boy.  It'll  all  come  out 
right,  at  last.  These  times  can't  last  long,  that's  a  sure 
thing." 

"  No.  I  hope  not.  What  are  you  doing  down  here  ?  " 
asked  Fred  at  this  juncture. 

"  I'm  going  into  Riley's." 

44  He's  another  jew  ! " 

"  No.  —  Not  exactly  —  though  he's  a  broker." 

"  Hard  up,  too  —  eh,  Frank  ?  " 

44  Yes.     But  I'll  soon  be  better  off,  I  trust." 

44  Well,  good-by,  Frank.  Come  round  and  see  us. 
Fannie  and  the  babies  will  be  glad  to  meet  you." 

44  Thank  yon.  I  will,"  returned  Meyers,  as  the  two 
friends  separated ;  and  Frank  entered  Riley's  pawn-shop, 
a  moment  afterwards,  where  he  intended  to  leave  his 
Adams  chronometer,  that  cost  near  two  hundred  dollars  a 
year  or  two  previously ;  upon  which  he  hoped  to  be  able 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT. 


55 


to  raise  a  hundred  dollars  in  cash  ;  with  which  he  had 
determined  to  discharge  the  three  board  bills  due  the 
Widow  Bean  —  without  farther  delay. 

Mr.  Riley  was  a  Yankee.  But  he  was  as  sharp  as  were 
his  neighbors.  The  Adams  watch  was  a  good  one. 

He  advanced  a  hundred  on  it,  for  six  months  —  at  three 
per  cent  per  month. 

And  Meyers  took  his  hundred  dollars  —  and  went  his 
way  back  to  his  boarding-house,  rejoicing. 


CHAPTER  in. 

WHAT   A  DAY  MAY  BRING  FORTH. 

FRANK  MEYERS  naturally  possessed  a  soul  altogethei 
above  buttons. 

"  I'm  as  poor  as  Job's  turkey,  boys,"  he  said  to  his 
mates,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  when  he  encountered  them 
two  hours  afterwards,  with  his  five  bright  twenty-dollar 
notes  in  his  hands.  "  But  look  a'  here,  lads  !  " 

And  he  flaunted  the  clean  bank-bills  above  his  head,  in 
great  glee. 

"  What  do  you  say  to  this,  Ely  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Where'dyougetit?" 

61  Borrowed  it." 

"  I  wish  /could  do  that  same  sort  of  thing,  then  ! " 

"  Where  ?  "  asked  young  Morris. 

"  Of '  my  uncle.'  Who  else,  pray,  in  times  like  these  ?  " 
returned  Frank,  glibly. 

"  I  have  no  uncle,"  observed  the  lad,  with  a  dash  of 
feigned  melancholy. 

"  Nor  I,"  joined  Ely.  "  I  wish  I  had.  I'd  go  for  him, 
now,  sure !  " 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  57 

"  Tliis  money,  I  borrowed  of  my  uncle  Isaacs,  the  pawn 
broker,"  said  Frank,  explaining  himself.  "  At  three  per 
cent  a  month  —  for  six  months.  It  will  cost  me  eighteen 
dollars  for  the  use  of  it,  if  paid  at  that  time,  promptly," 

"  And  if  not  ?  " 

"  My  two-hundred-dollar  watch  goes  up  —  if  I  am  not 
then  able  to  redeem  it." 

"  Pledged  your  watch  !  " 

"  Yes,  boys.  For  myself,  and  for  you.  We  three  lads 
owe  the  Widow  Bean  ninety-eight  dollars,  to-morrow.  I 
am  going  to  pay  up  that  old  score,  and  I  shall  have  two 
dollars  left.  I  made  it '  an  even  hundred,'  as  you  sug 
gested,  Morris  —  exactly." 

"  Yes.  Well "  —  continued  the  lad,  "  I  am  not  the 
owner  of  a  two-hundred-dollar  watch,  unluckily." 

"  Nor  I,  by  Jupiter,"  exclaimed  the  poor  inventor. 
"  But  I  hope  to  be  —  one  of  these  days." 

"  When  you  can  do  so,  conveniently  —  repay  me,  boys. 
That's  all,"  said  Frank,  indifferently. 

And  the  widow's  heart  and  eyes  were  gladdened 
wondrously,  next  morning,  when  Frank  Meyers,  for  him 
self  and  his  two  companions,  handed  her  the  full  amount 
of  their  three  board-bills,  due  up  to  that  day. 

A  good  action,  bestowed  on  no  matter  whom,  carries 
with  it  its  own  reward.  But  it  is 'the  motive  (not  so  much 
the  act,)  that  enhances  the  value  of  such  deed.  And  Frank 
Meyers  had  been  entirely  unselfish  in  this  friendly  act,  for 
he  had  moved  in  this  upon  the  golden  rule  —  though  the 


58  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

valuable  watch  was  the  gift  of  a  dead  relative  —  and  he 
felt  confidently  assured  that  he  was  doing  as  he  would 
have  been  done  by.  He  knew  that  either  Ely  or  Morris 
would  have  shared  with  him  their  last  shilling  —  had  they 
had  any  shilling  left  so  to  share. 

But  they  hadn't ! 

And  now  Frank  Meyers  himself  and  his  two  friends 
were  upon  a  par,  in  their  financial  condition. 

"  I  have  got  just  two  dollars,  boys,"  he  began,  in  a  jocu 
lar  tone  — 

"  And  nary  a  watch,"  suggested  the  broker's  clerk,  in  a 
good-natured  way. 

"  While  either  of  you  two  chaps  have  — " 

"  Nary  a  red,"  responded  Ely,  smiling. 

"  Well  —  what  shall  we  do  ?  "  asked  Frank. 

"  Go  to  work,"  replied  Morris. 

"  A  good  idea,  boy !  Where  ? "  inquired  Frank, 
cheerily. 

"  There  you  have  me,"  returned  the  youngster.  u  If  I 
but  only  knew  !  " 

"  Or  I,"  said  Hawes. 

"  Or  J,"  added  Meyers. 

"  From  to-day,  fellows,  let  us  remember  that  our  board 
begins  to  run  up,  again." 

"  That's  so,"  said  Ely. 

"  We  haven't  any  more  money  to  meet  the  next  bills 
with." 

"  Nor  watches  —  " 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  59 

"  Nor  any  thing  else  !  " 

"  Except  brains"  —  ventured  Frank. 

"  And  pluck  "  —  suggested  Deans. 

"  And  good  will  "  —added  Ely. 

"Now,  lads,"  continued  Meyers,  "  I  am  the  oldest  —  " 

"And  the  smartest,"  hinted  Morris,  complimentarily. 

"  And  I  propose  that  we  start  out  forthwith  upon  a 
hunt  —  " 

"  For  snipe  ?  "  asked  the  boy. 

"  No !  Listen  —  you  young  chatterer.  We  will  go  each 
in  a  different  direction,  and  canvass  the  city  thoroughly, 
for  ourselves  and  for  one  another.  The  times  are  shock 
ing,  I  know.  I  have  been  bred  to  service  behind  the 
counter  in  a  fashionable  dry-goods  house,  and  I  know  my 
business ;  but  my  trade  isn't  worth  much,  to-day.  Now 
I  saw,  not  long  ago,  that  a  London  preacher  uttered  in  his 
pulpit  sentiments  something  akin  to  these :  4  if  I  were  to 
fail  in  my  present  calling,  brethren,  he  said,  I  would  take 
to  literature.  If  I  failed  in  that,  I  would  try  commerce, 
perhaps.  If  I  could  not  succeed  in  that,  I  would  drive  a 
cab  for  a  living  —  or  saw  wood.  And  failing  in  this,  I 
would  take  to  blacking  boots.  But  I  would  not  sit  down 
and  wait  on  Providerfce  for  some  lucky  turn  in  fortune's 
wheel  —  while  I  had  health  and  strength,  and  possessed 
the  moral  courage  that  the  God  of  nature  has  implanted 
in  my  heart ! ' : 

"  Who  preached  that  sermon,  did  you  say  ?  " 

u  A  London  clergyman." 


60  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  He  was  a  brick,  by  Jove !  "  exclaimed  Ely.  "  He 
would  make  a  mighty  good  hand  at  inventing,  sure's 
you're  alive  !  You  couldn't  discourage  him,  easy  —  that's 
a  fact." 

"  Well,  d/.dn't  he  talk  it  about  on  the  level,  Ely  ?  " 

"  He  did." 

"  ISE  t  it  good  advice  ?  " 

"  Tip  top." 

"  Let  us  profit  by  the  suggestions,  then." 

"  I  don't  care  to  saw  wood,"  suggested  young  Deans. 

"  Nor  do  I  wish  to  undertake  to  drive  a  cab,"  said 
Frank.  "  I  should  make  but  an  indifferent  whip,  no 
doubt." 

"And  I  don't  propose  to  black  anybody's  boots,  at 
present,  if  I  know  myself,"  continued  Ely. 

"  No  !  There  is  no  need  of  this.  Yet  the  true  principle 
underlies  the  hints  embodied  by  the  parson  in  this  brief 
sermon,  nevertheless,  for  the  man  who  has  to  labor  for  his 
living.  And  so  we  will  neither  of  us  sit  down  and  trust 
to  luck,  while  we  can  get  any  thing  to  do  that  is  respecta 
ble  and  decent  for  respectable  and  decent  young  men  to 
perform." 

"  That's  it ! "  exclaimed  Ely. 

"  Now,  then  —  let's  move  !  " 

"  Forward,"  said  the  lad,  promptly. 

"  Face  front !  "  added  Ely. 

"  March  I "  concluded  Frank,  as  the  three  friends  left 
the  boarding-house  together,  in  excellent  spirits  —  agreeing 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  61 

to  u  report  progress,"  at  evening,  and  compare  notes  re 
garding  their  efforts  during  this  eventful  day  in  their  ex 
perience. 

"  You're  the  seventh  young  man  who  has  been  in  my 
store  to-day,  after  a  place,"  exclaimed  a  surly  curmudgeon 
of  a  retailer,  to  Morris,  who  thought  he  would  try  this 
shop,  for  a  chance  —  as  the  three  friends  wandered  about 
the  city,  that  day. 

"I  tell  you  I  don't  want  anybody.  I've  got  more 
clerks  round  me  now  than  I  can  pay  wages  to,"  persisted 
the  shop-keeper.  "  And  the  times  are  awful." 

Ely  looked  through  all  the  machine-shops,  in  at  the 
patent-agents'  offices,  (for  he  was  a  clever  young  draughts 
man,)  among  the  inventors,  and  engine-builders.  Every 
body  was  discharging  their  help.  They  did  not  want  to 
hire. 

Frank  Meyers  went  among  the  wholesale  houses,  and 
diligently  sought  for  an  opportunity  where  he  could 
"  make  himself  useful ; "  but  no  one  had  a  use  for  him  — 
and  he  found  nothing  available. 

But  he  "  had  been  there,"  before  this !  He  was  not 
seriously  disappointed,  and  in  no  wise  discouraged.  He 
floated  over  to  the  humble  lodgings  of  his  former  school 
mate,  Fordham — where  he  met  Fannie  and  the  babies. 
Fred  had  "gone  out  to  look  for  business,"  the  young  wife 
said.  He  had  been  idle  over  four  months. 

"  It  is  a  hard  time  for  the  young  men  about,"  said  Fan 
nie  sympathizingly,  when  Frank  had  informed  her  of  his 
own  situation  - —  not  unlike  that  of  her  husband. 


62  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  Fred  returned  to  his 
own  house,  where  he  found  Meyers  awaiting  him. 

"  What  are  you  doing,  Frank?  "  asked  the  latter,  as  he 
entered,  in  his  usual  good  spirits. 

"  Nothing  !  " 

"  And  you  find  plenty  to  help  you  do  that  same,  just 
now,  eh  ?  " 

"  That  is  so,  my  boy.  Fannie  tells  me  you  have  been 
busy  in  this  line,  some  weeks,  Fred.'' 

"  Four  months,  and  more.  And  I've  spent  about  the 
last  dollar  I've  got,  Frank !  " 

"  Why,  bless  you,  my  old  friend —  why  didn't  you  say 
so,  before?"  exclaimed  Frank,  patronizingly.  " Don't 
you  want  to  borrow  ?  " 

"  Have  you  got  any  thing  over,  Frank  ?  "  asked  Fred 
hopefully. 

"  Yes,  indeed." 

"  That  is  lucky,  to  be  sure,  my  friend." 

"  And  you  are  welcome  to  it,  my  dear  fellow  !  I  had  a 
hundred  clean  bright  dollars,  this  morning,"  continued 
Frank,  dubiously,  taking  out  his  flattened  wallet  —  that 
looked  now  as  if  an  elephant  had  recently  stepped  upon 
it  —  "and  if  I  had  known  you  were  short,  I'd  ha'  helped 
you  to  the  extent  of  my  humble  ability.  Why  didn't  you 
mention  it  ?  Here  !  "  he  continued.  "  This  is  what  I've 
got  left,  and  it  is  quite  at  your  service,  my  boy." 

And  with  this  pleasant  little  speech,  he  dug  out  the  two 
dollars  from  his  pocket-book,  with  a  magnanimous  expres 
sion —  as  if  it  had  been  two  hundred,  i 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  63 

"  Two  dollars  !  "  shouted  Fred. 

44  That  is  all  I've  got  left,  Fred." 

"  Ninety-eight  dollars  gone,  in  one  day,  Frank  ?  " 

"  Just  so,"  responded  Meyers. 

44  Well,  keep  it.  You  may  want  it,  before  night  —  at 
that  rate,"  replied  Fred. 

And  then  his  old  schoolmate  told  him  what  he  had  done 
with  his  ninety-eight  good  dollars. 

"  All  in  the  same  box,  I  find,"  continued  Fordham,  with 
the  merest  tinge  of  an  unconscious  sigh  at  the  prospect. 

"  Can  you  help  it,  Fred  ?  " 

"  No,  I  can't,  Frank." 

"  Nor  I.  We  haven't  brought  about  this  adverse  state 
of  things,  though  we  are  among  the  sufferers  by  this 
wretched  panic  and  prostration." 

"When  will  the  times  be  better?"  asked  Fred,  with 
a  trusting  look  in  his  candid  friend's  face.  "That  is 
the  question,  now." 

44  Yes,  Fred.  I  have  heard  this  conundrum  propounded 
on  several  occasions  latterly,  by  many  another.  But  I 
am  unable  to  guess  it." 

44 1  give  it  up,"  responded  Fordham. 

44  No  !  Not  yet,  my  boy.  That  won't  do,  in  your  case, 
mind  you." 

And  his  strong-hearted  chum  pointed  to  the  silent  wife 

—  •  and  babies. 

44 1  see.     Yes.     You  are  correct.     But,  bless  you,  Frank 

—  I  am  not  discouraged  at  all.     Only  —  at  the  same  time 

—  it  is  tough  —  this  present  prospect,  'eh  ?  " 


64         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  Right.  But  we  shall  all  weather  the  storm,  be  sure 
of  it.  Hawes,  Deans,  and  myself  are  alike  4  upon  our 
oars.'  But  we  can't  starve,  in  this  land.  And  the  clouds 
will  lift,  after  a  while." 

"  I  hope  so,"  concluded  the  young  husband. 

"What  luck,  boys?"  asked  Frank  that  night,  when 
the  other  three  friends  met  at  their  boarding-house  — 
after  their  first  day's  earnest  search  for  business. 

"  With  me,"  said  Ely  —  "  nix." 

i4  And  me,"  added  the  lad  Morris,  "  ditto." 

"  And  I,"  said  Frank,  "  found  nothing,  to-day.  But  we 
will  try  it  on  again,  to-morrow." 

"  And  next  day,"  rejoined  Ely. 

"  Yes,  and  the  next,"  persisted  the  boy,  trustfully. 

u  And  it  will  come  —  at  last,"  concluded  Frank. 
"  Fortune  may  do  her  worst,  lads,  whatever  she  may 
compel  us  to  lose,  so  long  as  she  never  makes  us  sink  our 
manhood,  or  sacrifice  our  honesty  and  will  to  do  the  right, 
upon  opportunity.  We  are  poor  enough  to-day  —  " 

".That's  a  fact !  "  interrupted  Ely. 

"  But  I  intend  one  day  to  be  rich,  boys !  " 

"  What  do  you  call  being  rich,  then,  Meyers  ?  "  asked 
the  broker's  lad. 

"  When  I  possess  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  that  I  can 
call  my  own,  lads,  I  will  be  content,"  said  Frank,  mod 
estly. 

"  A  goodly  sum,"  returned  Ely.  "  That  is  my  mark, 
too,  sooner  or  later." 


HOW    TO   MAKE   IT.  65 

"  Out  of  what  ?  "  asked  Morris. 

"My  brains,  boy.  I've  got  it  here  —  I  tell  you,"  he 
added,  tapping  his  cranium.  "  And  when  my  patent  is 
secured,  and  my  new  invention  is  perfected,  I  will  not 
only  astonish  the  world,  but  I  will  make  a  hundred  thou 
sand  do'lars  with  it,  if  I  live  to  see  it  matured." 

"  A  hundred  thousand  dollars ! "  murmured  the  lad, 
"  is  a  pile  of  money,  gentlemen !  If  I  ever  have  one 
fourth  of  this  in  my  hands,  that  I  know  belongs  of  right 
to  Morris  Deans,  I  will  not  seek  for  more.  I  shall  be  sat 
isfied  with  this.  It  is  a  competence." 

"  But  four  times  this  is  a  better  competency,  my  boy." 

"  So  it  is.     I  wish  you  may  get  it,  Frank." 

"  I  will  try,"  said  Meyers. 

"  And  I !  "  followed  Ely,  spunkily. 

And  so  they  did  —  all  three. 

The  days  and  weeks  went  by,  still,  without  much 
change.  But  the  panic  wore  away,  at  last.  The  skies 
brightened.  Everybody  had  touched  hard  pan.  Then 
business  opened  up,  at  length  —  slowly,  and  surely.  And 
the  crisis  passed. 

At  the  end  of  two  months,  our  four  representative 
young  men  began  to  "  see  daylight,"  once  more. 

They  resolved  to  make  their  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
each.  And  how  they  went  about  it  —  as  well  as  the 
measure  of  their  subsequent  success  in  life  —  will  be 
detailed  truthfully  in  our  subsequent  chapters. 

We  present  two  illustrations,  showing  two  sides  of  char 
acter  applicable  to  the  points  under  consideration. 


66 


A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


Facing  page  40,  the  anxious  but  unambitious  lad  sits  by 
the  way-side  and  longingly  looks  into  space  for  something 
that  may  turn  up  to  his  future  advantage,  perhaps. 

The  other  shows  our  manly  type  of  worker  —  Ely 
Hawes  ;  who  is  ardently  busying  himself  at  his  bench. 

There  is  the  indolent,  and  here  the  industrious  youih. 
Which  of  these  is  represented  by  the  young  man  wl*ose 
eye  may  fall  upon  these  lines,  to-day  ? 


TURNING  SOMETHING   UP. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HOW   TO  BEGIN   TO  MAKE   MONEY. 

THIS  country  is  unlike  all  older  nationalities  of  the 
world,  in  respect  of  the  opportunities  current  for  amassing 
fortune,  through  one  grand  special  feature  —  to  wit,  the 
cultivation  of  its  widely  extended  and  readily  obtainable 
cheap  territory. 

No  other  country  on  earth  to-day  offers  as  this  does  a 
tithe  of  the  solid  inducements  to  the  vigorous,  industri 
ous,  enterprising  youth  who  is  blessed  with  health  and 
strength  and  good  intentions,  to  win  a  fortune  by  applying 
himself  determinately  to  the  tilling  of  our  virgin  soil  —  in 
a  thousand  prime  localities  that  might  be  pointed  out  — 
east,  west,  and  south. 

We  are  all  aware  that  there  be  other  fields,  and  other 
channels  of  trade  —  in  commerce,  arts,  mechanics,  and 
professions,  whereby  a  goodly  fortune  may  be  accumulated, 
under  given  circumstances  ;  in  some  of  these  more  rapidly, 
perhaps,  than  in  others.  But  no  means  are  surer,  none 
safer,  or  more  promising,  in  the  long  run,  than  this  just 
mentioned  ;  for  it  is  literally  as  it  is  poetically  true  that 
"4  the  farmer  feeds  us  all."  G? 


68         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

The  nabob  may  ride  through  his  own  palace-gate,  the 
merchant  may  amass  his  millions,  the  lady  may  sweep 
along  in  gorgeous  array,  the  sailor  may  plough  the  far 
away  seas,  the  artisan  may  toil,  the  lawyer  may  plead,  the 
mechanic  may  build,  and 

"  Great  work  may  be  done,  be  it  here  or  there, 
And  men  may  work  worthily,  everywhere. 
But  fall  to  each,  whate'er  may  befall, 
The  farmer  must  feed  them  —  after  all!  " 

In  this  connection,  take  a  single  well  accredited  example 
of  the  accumulation  of  solid  wealth  through  very  simple 
means  associated  with  rural  husbandry,  in  the  instance  of 
Samuel  Long  and  brother,  who  were  reared  near  New- 
manstown,  Penn.'a. 

These  two  young  men  have  proved  enterprising  as  well 
as  model  farmers,  in  the  Key-stone  State.  Less  than 
twenty  years  ago,  they  went  to  New  York  city  with 
scarcely  one  hundred  dollars  in  cash  between  them,  and 
to-day  they  control  the  wholesale  market  of  that  metropo 
lis  in  the  egg-business. 

The  success  of  these  persons  has  been  remarkable  — 
but  it  is  only  a  single  instance  showing  what  may  be  done 
through  steady  application  towards  a  given  project,  right 
fully  attended  to  from  the  start,  and  persistently  followed 
up,  as  these  now  well-to-do  young  men  have  pursue*!  their 
chosen  vocation. 

These  men  have  got  rich  on  eggs,  simply.  They  now 
own  seven  extensive  farms,  upon"  which  they  have  erected 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  6iJ 

magnificent  buildings,  in  the  latest  style  of  improved 
modern  architecture  ;  and  at  this  writing  they  are  building  a 
superb  Mansard  structure,  hardly  excelled  in  this  country. 

They  have  two  large  ice-houses,  in  which  they  4t  preserve 
eggs  "  in  quantity,  from  time  to  time.  One  of  these  was 
recently  put  up  along  the  Lebanon  Valley  Railroad,  for 
convenience  in  transportation  of  their  accumulating  egg- 
freight.  It  has  iron  floors,  and  holds  thousands  of  barrels 
of  eggs. 

These  brothers  have  a  large  Western  trade.  They  buy 
when  eggs  are  plenty  and  low-priced,  lay  them  down  in 
bulk,  and  sell  when  the  price  is  at  the  best.  Thus  they 
have  made  fortunes  ;  and  the  world  is  still  open  to  the 
industrious  and  shrewd  American,  in  various  ways  —  as 
simple  in  method  as  this  appears  to  be  —  if  the  enterpris 
ing  man  will  but  look  about  him,  in  right  down  earnest, 
and  take  hold  of  his  opportunity,  seasonably. 

Yet  notwithstanding  the  indisputable  fact  that  no  enter 
prise  or  calling  embarked  in,  in  our  land,  is  so  certain  in 
its  average  returns  to  the  able-bodied  young  man  who 
diligently  pursues  the  life  of  the  intelligent  agriculturist, 
we  may  daily  note  the  universality  with  which  Americans 
are  forsaking  this  kind  of  avocation  —  in  all  directions. 

At  the  very  time  when  manufactures,  trade,  clerking, 
and  skilled  mechanical  labor  are  at  their  worst,  and  when 
thousands  upon  thousands  in  the  over-crowded  business- 
centres  are  left  out  of  employment,  in  these  hard  times, 
it  is  a  fact  that  farmers  find  it  difficult  to  obtain  good  help 


70  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

to  forward  and  gather  their  growing  or  matured  crops , 
and  this  complaint  has  been  general  among  this  class  of 
workers  especially  during  the  past  two  or  three  trying 
years. 

There  is  no  social  error  more  glaring  than  that  of  indul 
gent  fathers  who  raise  boys  to  no  occupation  or  calling 
save  what  they  can  gather  in  "  clerking  "  it,  nowadays. 

A  Philadelphia  paper  recently  contained  an  advertise 
ment  for  a  young  man  in  a  railway  office.  In  a  single 
day,  there  were  received  nine  hundred  and  eighty  applica 
tions  for  this  one  place,  for  which  only  "moderate  compen 
sation  "  was  promised. 

This  shows  a  large  excess  of  young  men  lying  about 
loose  in  our  cities,  who  are  disposed  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  do-nothing  process,  whereby  to  earn  a  precarious  sub 
sistence  ;  for,  at  the  best,  such  '  situations '  can  offer  per 
manency  to  but  very  few  of  those  out  of  employment,  and 
who  are  inclined  to  "  do  any  thing  "  except  work  for  a 
living. 

But  what  is  first  and  foremost  of  the  greatest  conse 
quence  in  any  undertaking,  as  a  business-pursuit  in  life,  is 
a  decision  or  choice  of  the  kind  of  vocation  the  young  man 
will  follow.  When  this  is  selected,  the  next  important 
thing  to  be  observed  is,  the  following  out  of  this  pursuit, 
unflinchingly,  to  the  end  —  holding  steadily  in  view  the 
truthful  maxim  that  whatever  is  worth  doing  at  all,  is 
worth  doing  well.  And  thorough  perseverance  surely 
wins,  at  last.  The  greatest  work  is  accomplished  not  by 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  71 

physical  strength,  but  by  application  and  persistence. 
The  formidable  granite  palace  is  reared  by  single  stones 
placed  one  upon  another.  And  the  man  who  walks  three 
hours  a  day,  may  in  seven  years'  time  have  passed  over  a 
space  equal  to  the  circumference  of  the  globe  ! 

Whatever  is  acquired  with  difficulty,  is  best  retained. 
And  he  who  earns  a  fortune,  is  the  man  who  best  appre 
ciates  it,  and  is  the  most  careful  to  preserve  it  —  be  it 
small  or  great.  "Show  me  a  young  man,"  said  Charles 
Fox,  "  who  has  not  at  first  succeeded,  but  who  has  never 
theless  gone  steadily  on,  in  the  face  of  vicissitude,  and  I 
will  back  him  to  do  better  in  the  end  than  he  who  is 
fortunate  upon  his  first  attempt." 

Few  things  are  impossible  of  accomplishment  in  life,  to 
which  are  applied  thorough  diligence,  wit,  and  skill.  And 
nothing  is  so  hard  to  find  out,  that  persistent  search  will 
not  discover  it.  "  That  policy,"  says  Col  ton,  "  which  is 
able  to  strike  only  while  the  iron  is  hot,  will  be  overcome 
by  that  perseverance  which,  like  Oliver  Cromwell's,  can 
make  the  iron  hot  by  striking." 

As  the  constant  falling  of  a  single  drop  of  water  upon 
one  spot  will  wear  away  the  hardest  stone,  so  the  nerve 
that  never  relaxes,  the  steady  pursuit  never  once  given  up, 
the  eye  that  never  blenches,  the  heart  that  never  faints, 
the  brain  that  never  ceases  to  devise,  the  thought  once 
fixed  that  never  wanders — these  are  the  champions  of 
victory  ! 

Determined  perseverance  in  the   right   direction,  gives 


72         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

power  to  weakness,  and  opens  up  to  poverty  the  world's 
wide  wealth.  It  spreads  fertility  over  the  barren  land 
scape,  it  bids  the  choicest  fruits  and  flowers  spring  up  and 
flourish,  where  only  thorns  or  briers  grow  before.  And 
whoever  perseveres,  is  bound  to  CONQUER. 

Good  old  Ben  Franklin  declared  that  the  road  to  ,vealth 
is  as  plain  as  the  road  to  mill.  And  so  it  is.  But  the 
direct  route  is  too  frequently  mistaken.  And  young  men 
are  apt  to  get  in  the  by-ways,  or  off  the  highway  that 
leads  to  fortune,  through  lack  of  discernment  at  the  proper 
time,  when  entering  upon  the  commencement  of  their 
journey. 

The  clerk,  or  salesman,  or  mechanic  whose  salary  may 
be  a  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  but  who  carelessly  ex 
pends  twelve  hundred,  in  a  year  —  will  not  make  haste  to 
get  rich.  The  young  man  whose  income  is  five  hundred 
dollars,  annually,  who  expends  but  four  hundred  and  a 
half  in  a  twelvemonth,  and  who  puts  the  remaining  fifty 
only  out  at  interest  at  six  per  cent  for  thirty  years — say 
from  the  time  he  is  twenty  —  may  find  a  pretty  fortune  in 
gold  at  his  bankers,  when  he  reaches  fifty  years  of  age. 

True  economy  is  of  itself  a  grand  revenue.  Not  parsi 
mony —  not  meanness — not  penuriousness.  The  youth 
whose  father  has  taught  him  to  live  upon  a  little,  is 
indebted  to  that  parent's  wisdom  far  more  than  is  the  lad 
whose  father's  care  has  bequeathed  him  a  competenc}'. 
And  the  man  was  right  who  regarded  nothing  as  cheap 
that  was  a  superfluity —  since  what  one  does  not  need,  is 
dear  at  any  price. 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT.  73 

This  axiom  may  be  set  down  as  true :  "  no  man  is  rich, 
whose  expenditures  exceed  his  means,  and  no  one  is  poor, 
whose  income  exceeds  his  outgoes."  It  is  frugality,  sound 
economy,  honesty,  and  industry  that  make  the  poor  man 
rich.  And  if  we  manage  to  be  an  economist  in  prosperity, 
there  is  no  fear  about  this  matter  in  adversity. 

"  Poor  Richard "  uttered  a  meaty  sentence  when  he 
penned  these  words :  "  Let  honesty  and  industry  be  thy 
constant  companions,  and  spend  one  penny  less  per  day 
than  thy  clear  gains.  Thus,  shall  thy  hide-bound  pocket 
soon  begin  to  thrive,  and  thenceforth  never  again  cry  with 
the  empty  belly-ache.  Neither  will  creditors  insult  thee, 
nor  want  oppress,  nor  hunger  bite,  nor  nakedness  freeze 
thee." 

Young  Morris  Deans,  the  former  city  broker's  clerk, 
had  handled  millions  of  dollars  in  the  three  years  he  had 
been  employed  in  State  Street,  Boston.  But  his  master 
failed,  during  the  panic,  and  Morris  could  obtain  no  new 
situation  in  the  line  of  his  late  vocation.  He  was  com 
pelled  to  turn  his  thoughts  in  another  direction,  therefore, 
as  we  have  seen. 

When  business  revived,  the  married  book-keeper,  Fred 
Fordham,  fortunately  secured  a  position,  (at  a  reduced 
salary,)  and  went  to  work  again  in  the  counting-house. 
Frank  Meyers  left  Boston  for  New  York,  where  he  sub 
sequently  found  employment  in  a  wholesale  domestic 
dry-goods  house.  Ely  Hawes,  the  embryo  inventor,  stuck 
to  his  '  model-machine,'  and  slowly  pursued  the  chosen 
object  of  his  life. 


74         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Ail  these  characters  we  shall  meet  again,  as  we  proceed. 
Now  we  have  to  do  with  the  boy  —  Morris  Deans  ;  whose 
career  we  will  follow  first,  for  convenience,  and  learn  how 
he  succeeded,  for  the  nonce,  in  his  beginning  to  make 
money. 

Young  Deans  had  been  a  very  good  broker's  clerk.  For 
nearlj- three  years  he  had  gone  forward  steadily,  but  his 
salary  had  been  (in  those  days)  never  more  than  six  dol 
lars  a  week.  At  first,  but  four.  Then  five  —  and  during 
the  last  year  six  dollars. 

Yet  he  had  contrived  to  live  upon  this.  He  boarded  at 
a  modest  house,  and  made  his  income  pay  his  expenses, 
mostly.  But  he  had  very  little  '  over.'  And  when  he  lost 
his  place,  he  was  without  means  —  to  the  last  dollar. 

He  was  an  orphan,  and  he  knew  he  must  depend  upon 
his  own  energy  and  talents  for  sustenance.  But  he  was 
willing,  smart,  capable,  stout  of  heart  and  strong  in  limb 
—  and  he  was  determined  to  make  his  way,  if  he  could 
get  hold  of  any  kind  of  work  that  would  support  him, 
and  open  up  a  chance  prospectively  in  his  future. 

He  was  now  past  nineteen  years  old.  He  had  come  to 
the  city  from  the  Cape,  at  sixteen,  obtained  the  situation 
in  the  stock  and  money  broker's  office,  and  had  acquired  a 
goodly  knowledge  of  securities,  the  keeping  of  accounts, 
and  the  true  value  of  interest  and  commissions. 

He  was  a  bright,  cheery,  able-bodied,  comely  lad,  and 
was  not  afraid  of  work  —  though,  in  his  calling  in  the  city, 
he  had  not  been  required  to  perform  any  sharp  manual 
labor,  latterly. 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  75 

Before  he  came  to  Boston,  however,  he  had  been  reared 
upon  a  worn-out  farm  in  Barnstable  County ;  where  he  re 
membered  to  have  been  "a  son  of  toil,"  in  his  j^ounger 
days,  and  where  he  had  had  a  goodly  experience,  for  his 
years,  among  hard  workers,  who  were  healthy,  honest,  and 
content. 

The  change  from  country  to  city  life,  had  changed  tho 
quiet  boy  to  an  ambitious  lad,  for  the  time  being.  But 
when  adversity  overtook  him,  he  thought  over  all  the 
chances  —  looked  his  condition  straight  in  the  face  — 
and  said  to  himself  and  to  his  companions  "  I  will  do 
any  thing  I  can  perform,  that  is  honest  and  honorable,  to 
get  a  living."  A  wise  resolve. 

In  the  course  of  his  service  with  the  stock-broker  in 
State  Street,  young  Deans  had  come  across  a  burly,  portly 
man  of  about  fifty  years  of  age,  who  came  to  Boston 
twice  a  year  to  collect  his  interest-money  upon  some 
shares  of  stock  he  owned  in  the  old  solid  Massachusetts 
Bank,  where  the  lad's  employer  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
depositing  his  funds. 

This  man  was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  named  Howard 
Blount  —  who  had  had  occasion  several  times  to  do  busi 
ness,  briefly,  with  the  broker  where  Morris  was  a  clerk. 
He  took  a  fancy  to  the  lad,  and  vouchsafed  him  fre 
quently  a  pleasant  remark  —  as  he  came  and  went,  ever}' 
six  months  —  upon  meeting  the  young  man. 

But  nothing  came  of  this  until  the  broker  failed.  And 
then  it  chanced  that  old  Blount  came  down  to  Boston  t~ 


76  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

collect  his  income,  one  day  —  in  the  midst  of  the  mone 
tary  troubles. 

These  adversities  had  occasioned  him  no  inconvenience, 
however.  His  twenty  thousand  dollars,  placed  in  the 
stock  of  the  strong  old  institution  he  had  chosen  for  the 
purpose  of  investing,  were  as  safe  as  gold  coin  in  the 
mint.  And  regularly,  twice  a  year,  he  came  to  draw  his 
three  per  centum  dividends. 

He  dwelt  at  Brand ville  —  in  Western  Massachusetts. 
His  farm  was  a  good  one.  It  lay  upon  the  margin  of  the 
Connecticut  River,  and  comprised  two  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  of  splendidly  tilled  land,  upon  which  he 
cultivated  huge  fields  of  grass  and  grain,  and  where  he 
kept  a  large  herd  of  superior  cattle,  and  other  live  stock. 
His  domain  was  taxed  at  two  hundred  dollars  the  acre. 
And  Howard  Blount  was  known  to  possess  in  real  and 
personal  estate  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  — 
clear  of  the  world. 

Blount  was  eccentric,  in  some  of  his  ways,  but  he  was 
a  good  solid  honest  citizen,  and  loved  his  calling.  He 
had  been  bred  a  farmer  and  cattle-raiser.  He  had  one  of 
the  finest  landed  estates  upon  the  Connecticut  River,  and 
he  was  esteemed. a  first-class  good  man,  in  the  main. 

He  was  a  stout  old  fellow,  himself,  his  cattle  were  fat 
and  sleek,  his  pigs  were  as  fat  as  the  others,  his  poultry 
was  fat,  his  dog  was  fat,  his  good  wife  was  robust  and 
portly,  his  sheep  were  fat ;  and  every  thing  about  this 
great  stock  farm  at  Brandville  was  in  high  health  and 
thorough  good  keeping. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  77 

Old  Blount  came  down  to  Boston  to  collect  his  divi 
dends,  and  met  young  Morris  Deans,  recently  the  broker's 
clerk  —  who  was  then  in  search  of  a  new  situation,  which 
he  had  not  yet  been  able  to  find. 

"Out  o'  business,  eh?"  inquired  the  farmer,  pleas 
antly. 

"  Yes,  sir.  My  employer  has  given  up,  and  I  am  thus 
thrown  out  of  work." 

"  Yes.  Got  any  money  saved  up,  boy  ?  "  asked  Blount, 
kindly. 

"  No  !  "  responded  Morris.  "  I  never  had  any  money 
over,  from  week  to  week,  unfortunately.  I  never  earned 
more  than  my  actual  current  expenses.  And  so  it  all 
went  for  board,  and  clothing  and  washing,  you  see." 

"  Yes.  Well  —  what  are  you  goin'  to  do,  now  ?  " 
queried  the  farmer. 

"  Any  thing  I  can  get  to  do,"  returned  Morris, 
promptly. 

"  Yes.  I  see,"  said  Mr.  Blount,  thoughtfully.  And  he 
eyed  the  lad  scrutinizingly,  a  moment,  as  if  he  were 
doubtful  about  proceeding  further  with  a  thought  that 
just  then  entered  his  head. 

"No  —  you  wouldn't  do,  I  reck'n,"  concluded  Blount. 

"  Wouldn't  do  what,  sir  ?  " 

"  You  wouldn't  answer,  I'm  afeard." 

"  For  what,  if  you  please  ?  " 

"  You  wouldn't  like  it." 

"  Like  what?     Business  —  do  you  mean,  sir?" 


78  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

"  No.  I  was  a  thinkin',  Morris  —  that,  perhaps  —  but, 
no  —  it  is  no  matter.  You  couldn't  stand  it,"  said  Blount. 

"  Stand  what  ?  "  persisted  the  boy,  whose  curiosity  was 
now  excited,  and  who  fancied  he  saw  a  chance  —  of  some 
kind.  He  didn't  know  what,  and  he  had  got  to  that 
point  where  he  didn't  care,  if  it  were  only  to  better  his 
poor  condition. 

"  Well,"  continued  the  pursy  farmer,  good-naturedly, 
"  your  hands  are  a  heap  too  small  to  swing  a  flail,  or  grasp 
a  scythe-snath.  An'  you  couldn't  cut  six  foot  o'  cord- 
wood  in  a  week,  that's  a  fact!  No  —  you  won't  answer, 
boy." 

"Do  you  want  to  hire  a  hand,  Mr.  Blount?"  asked 
Morris,  seriously. 

"  Well,  I  do,  young  man.  An'  I'd  give  you  a  chance, 
right  willin'ly,  if  I  thought  you  could  stan'  the  work. 
That  is  to  say,  if  you  can't  do  better." 

"  What  is  the  pay,  sir  ?  " 

"  Twenty  dollars  a  month,  and  your  livin',  if  you  can 
do  the  work,  lad." 

"  Will  you  give  me  a  chance  to  try  it,  sir  ?  " 

"  Do  you  think  you'd  like  farmin',  you  city-bred 
youngster  ?  " 

"  I  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  sir,"  responded  Morris, 
proudly. 

"  You  I "  exclaimed  Blount. 

"  Until  I  was  sixteen." 

"Is  that  so?" 


"Mine  whar  yer  g'wine,  now,  Mass'r  Blount,  an'  don't  obertip  us!"  cried  Aunt 
Chloe,  the  darkey  attendant  — as  the  jolly  party  of  little  ones,  nestled  snugly  in  the 
top  of  the  hay-load,  were  being  driven  down  the  steep  hill,  toward  the  spacious  Sun- 
nyside  barns.  [CHAP.  vi.  page  96. 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  81 

"  I  have  been  '  city  bred  '  only  three  years,  sir." 

"  I  didn't  know  it." 

"  And  I  am  stronger  to-day  than  I  ever  was,  Mr 
Blount,"  urged  the  lad,  *4  while  I  never  was  more  needy.' 

"  And  .you'll  try  it,  again  ?  " 

"  I  will,  sir,  gladly." 

"  At  twenty  dollars  a  month,  an'  found  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  That  is  twenty  dollars  a  month  more  than 
I  ever  yet  earned  in  my  life  !  " 

"  When  will  you  begin  ?  " 

"  When  do  you  want  me  ?  " 

"  Right  away.  Ploughin's  begun  already,  and  sowin' 
'11  come  right  along.  I  would  like  you  to  come  at  once." 

"  To-morrow  ?  " 

"  To-day,  if  you  like." 

"  When  do  you  return  home,  sir  ?  " 

"  To-night  —  in  the  stage." 

"  I  will  join  you,  then." 

"  It's  a  bargain,"  said  Blount.  "  If  you  like  me,  an' 
I  like  you  —  and  you  like  farmin'  and  stock-raisin',  lad, 
I'll  do  well  by  you,  herearter." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  I  will  try,"  said  young  Deans,  with 
a  thankful  heart. 

And  an  hour  afterwards,  he  found  Frank  Meyers  and 
Ely  Hawes,  not  a  little  elated. 

u  How  do  you  make  it,  boys?  " 

"  Nothing,  as  yet." 

"  Fred  Fordham's  gone  to  work  again,  I  hear." 


82  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Yes,  I  know  it,"  said  Frank.  "  And  I  am  going  on  to 
New  York,  to  look  for  a  chance." 

"  Well,  Tve  got  a  place,  thank  heaven !  " 

"  Where  ?  " 

"  With  old  Howard  Blount,  in  Brandville." 

44  At  what  ?  " 

44  Farming." 

44  Farming  ?  " 

44  Yes,  and  stock-raising." 

The  two  friends  smiled. 

44  You  grin,  boys.  Well,  I  am  to  get  more  pay  there 
than  I  ever  did  yet,  and  I  can  do  the  work  like  falling  off 
a  log,  I  can  tell  you." 

44  Glad  of  it." 

44  We  all  thought  we'd  try  what  we  could  get,  since  we 
couldn't  have  what  we  desired,  exactly.  Didn't  we  ?  " 

44  Yes.  You  are  right.  Go  in,  my  dear  fellow.  You'll 
make  your  fortune,  of  course." 

44  That  is  how  old  Blount  made  his,  at  any  rate,"  sug 
gested  Morris,  cheerfully. 

44  It's  a  very  respectable  calling." 

44  And  profitable,"  said  Ely. 

44  Yes;  and  I  will  like  it,"  continued  Deans,"  if  it's 
such  a  place  as  I  hear  it  is." 

44  When  do  you  begin?  " 

44  To-morrow.  I  go  over,  to-night.  In  sixty  days, 
Frank,  I  will  send  you  your  borrowed  money  —  for  the 
board- bill,  you  know." 


HOW    TO    MAKE   IT.  83 

"  I  congratulate  you,  my  boy.  No  doubt  .you'll  do  well 
there." 

And  thus  the  three  friends  parted,  while  old  farmer 
Blunt  accompanied  by  his  newly  hired  man  Morris  Deans 
took  the  mail-coach  at  evening,  and  arrived  at  the  Brand- 
ville  farm,  at  early  noon  next  day  —  without  previous 
announcement  there  of  their  coming. 

Moms  knew  nothing  about  the  household  of  his  new 
employer.  But  during  the  journey  up  from  Boston,  the 
rather  talkative  old  man  gave  him  a  brief  description  of 
the  premises,  of  the  stock  he  kept,  and  hinted  at  what 
duty  he  expected  the  ambitious  lad  to  perform. 

The  young  man  was  in  excellent  spirits,  but  had  no 
idea  who  or  what  he  was  to  encounter  at  the  Blount 
estate.  He  only  congratulated  himself  upon  his  bright 
ening  prospects.  He  had  begun  to  make  his  fortune,  at 
last,  so  he  fancied  ! 

"  Let  those  laugh  who  lose,"  said  Morris,  mentally,  as 
he  entered  upon  this  new  experiment,  "  for  those  who 
win  are  sure  to  be  pleased.  Old  Blount  is  a  sterling  man. 
He  has  made  his  fortune,  legitimately,  in  tilling  the  soil. 
I  will  put  forth  my  best  efforts,  and  we  shall  see  how  we 
come  out,  in  the  end." 

"  It  is  a  change,  young  man,"  ventured  Blount,  advis 
edly,  as  they  journeyed  along  towards  his  beautiful  home  ; 
"  and  you  will  find  the  employment  and  surroundings  at 
Brandville  quite  different  from  those  you  have  latterly 
been  accustomed  to." 


84  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

"I  shall  apply  myself  to  the  new  occupation  with 
earnest  good  will,  sir/'  returned  the  lad,  promptly. 

And  he  meant  just  what  he  said  —  for  he  believed  that 
the  farmer's  proposal  to  him  was  really  a  god-send,  and 
that  he  was  now  upon  the  road  to  prospective  good 
fortune. 


MORRIS  DEANS  — THE  CITY   LAD.  MORRIS   DEANS,  OX   THE  FARM. 


CHAPTER   V. 

MORRIS   DEANS  IMPROVES  HIS  PROSPECTS. 

THE  agricultural  proprietor  and  his  young  assistant 
reached  the  Connecticut  River  farm  at  early  dinner-time. 

"  We  call  the  place  Sunnyside,"  said  Blount,  when  they 
alighted,  and  were  entering  the  great  old-fashioned  square 
white  mansion. 

Then  he  pointed  the  lad  to  the  broad  fields  sloping 
down  westward,  towards  the  shining  Connecticut  that 
flowed  majestically  past  the  wide-stretching  acres  of  old 
Blount' s  estate  —  dotted  here  and  there  with  cattle-herds, 
and  sheep,  and  horses,  in  the  bright  green  pastures. 

It  was  early  spring-time,  but  the  grass  had  started 
abundantly  in  that  region,  and  the  trees  were  just  being 
clothed  with  their  first  verdure. 

The  house  stood  upon  the  highest  portion  of  the  upland, 
and  the  prospect  looking  west  and  north  and  south  was 
very  agreeable  to  the  eye  —  the  broad  landscape  stretching 
out  over  wide  plains,  and  rolling  ground  beyond,  to  the 
hills  and  woods  of  Berkshire. 

"  Come     in,    .Morris,"    said     Farmer    Blount,    kindly 

85 


86  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

"  Here.  Let  me  give  you  a  hand  with  your  trunk,"  he 
said,  as  the  lad  took  up  his  box,  that  contained  his  scanty 
wardrobe,  a  few  books,  and  all  his  worldly  effects. 

"It  isn't  heavy, "  returned  Morris,  pleasantly,  declining 
the  old  man's  aid,  and  shouldering  the  box. 

Nor  was  it  very  bulky,  to  be  sure  !  Yet  it  contained  his 
little  all. 

"  Come  in.  Set  it  down  in  the  entry,  just  now.  Well 
see  what'll  be  done  with  it,  by  and  by,"  continued  the 
farmer.  "  This  way,  now,"  he  added,  leading  on  to  the 
keeping  room,  upon  the  southerly  side  of  the  house. 

And  as  the  new-comers  entered,  a  matronly  woman  of 
five-and-forty  rose  to  greet  her  husband,  and  saluted  him 
with  an  affectionate  kiss  of  welcome ;  as  was  her  wont, 
upon  4  father's '  return  from  his  occasional  temporary 
absence  from  home. 

"  This  is  my  wife,1'  said  Mr.  Blount.  "  It  is  Morris 
Deans,  my  dear  —  from  Boston.  He  has  come  up  to  live 
with  us.  I  have  hired  him  to  work  upon  the  farm,  with 
the  rest." 

"  You  are  very  welcome,  Morris,"  said  the  lady,  kindly. 

And  Morris  took  her  extended  hand,  and  replied  that  he 
was  happy  to  meet  so  pleasant  a  lady,  in  what  might  be 
his  new  home,  in  the  future. 

"  Seems  to  me  you  don't  look  much  like  a  farmer,  never 
theless,"  observed  Mrs.  Blount  graciously,  when  the  first 
civilities  of  reception  were  over. 

"  He's  a  stout  lad,  mother,  notwithstanding  his  genteel 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  87 

looks,"  returned  Blount.  "  In  this  holiday  rig  he  has  on, 
he  dont  look  very  formidable,  that's  a  fact.  But  he's 
been  living  in  the  city  three  years,  and  the  young  lads 
have  to  dress  differently  there.  You  must  get  off  these 
store  clo'es,  though,  Morris,  after  dinner;  and  we'll  see 
what  we  can  do  for  you,  to  make  you  look  more  like  one 
of  us.  You  have  other  clo'es  in  your  trunk,  I  s'pose  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  lad. 

But  this  was  the  only  complete  suit  he  had  to  his  back ! 

They  were  soon  called  to  dinner.  And  a  right  enjoya 
ble  repast  it  proved,  too.  Both  men  were  hungry,  and 
they  ate  with  an  appetite  sharpened  by  their  long  stage- 
ride. 

The  other  two  hands  who  worked  on  the  farm  came  in, 
and  Morris  was  introduced,  all  round. 

"  This  is  my  darter,  Eunice  —  Morris,"  finally  said  the 
old  man,  as  he  presented  a  buxom  young  woman,  who 
entered  last. 

And  before  they  left  the  table,  all  hands  felt  reasonably 
acquainted. 

There  was  no  restraint,  no  balking,  no  undue  reserve,  at 
"  Sunnyside."  But  a  hearty  welcome  greeted  the  lad  at 
his  new  location,  and  he  felt  quite  at  home,  after  two 
hours'  acquaintance  there. 

Miss  Eunice  was  a  very  nice  girl ;  as  fresh  as  a  rose, 
healthy,  hearty,  happy,  and  comely.  The  coming  of 
Morris  was  a  surprise  to  her,  as  it  was  also  to  her  mother, 
Mrs.  Blount.  Indeed,  it  was  equally  unexpected  to  old 


88  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

Blount,  himself  —  for  he  had  no  idea  of  making  an  en 
gagement  with  this  young  man,  though  he  was  in  want  of 
additional  help  on  the  farm,  and  calculated  to  get  a  man 
directly  upon  his  return  from  Boston,  if  he  did  not  chance 
to  meet  with  one  there. 

After  dinner,  Blount  took  Morris  about  over  the  estate, 
and  showed  him  his  fine  live  stock  —  his  horses,  colts, 
cattle,  sheep,  swine  and  poultry. 

They  interchanged  a  pleasant  chat,  and  the  old  man 
was  equally  astonished  at  the  lad's  intelligence  and  ready 
appreciation  of  every  thing  he  saw.  Then  he  said  — 

44  You  can  go  over  to  the  store,  by  and  by,  Morris,  and 
get  yourself  an  outfit.  Your  clothes  are  entirely  unsuited 
to  our  work." 

u  Thank  you.  I  will,  sir.  You  must  do  me  the  favor 
to  become  responsible  for  what  I  shall  need,  though,  for 
I  am  short  of  ready  money.  I  will  pay  you  out  of  my 
first  earnings,  of  course." 

"  That  will  all  take  care  of  itself,  Morris.  I  have  no 
account,  there.  But  they  keep  a  great  variety  of  every 
thing  needful  for  the  inner  or  outer  man,  at  the  store, 
which  is  also  our  Brandville  Post  office.  I  will  go  with 
you.  I'm  a  cash  man  myself,  and  the  postmaster  is  an  old 
friend.  But  I  owe  no  man  a  dollar  —  except  the  current 
wages  for  the  month  to  my  farm-men.  I  pay  every  thing, 
monthly  —  and  have  no  "  little  bills  "  coming  in,  you  see." 

"  That  is  a  very  good  plan,"  said  Morris,  lt  when  one 
is  able  to  do  it,  conveniently." 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  6 

"  I  always  make  it  a  point  to  buy  nothing,  contract  for 
nothing,  and  have  nothing  that  I  can't  pay  down  cash  for, 
when  I  get  it.  Then  it  is  my  own,  and  nobody  can  dun 
me  for  it—  eh?" 

"  An  excellent  system,  sir." 

"  It  is  one  of  the  first  and  most  important  lessons  to 
learn  in  business  life,  Morris.  If  you  haven't  the  money 
to  pay  for  what  you  want,  go  without  it.  Wear  your  old 
coat,  or  hat,  or  boots,  a  little  longer  —  if  it  be  clothing. 
Wait  till  you  can  earn  the  money  to  pay  with.  Never 
run  in  debt.  Don't  give  notes,  or  due-bills,  or  promises  — 
for  money." 

"  All  of  us  can't  manage  thus,  sir  —  though  I  admit  it 
is  an  admirable  theory." 

"  True  —  there  are  cases  "  — 

"  Mine,  to-day,  for  instance  ?  " 

"Yes.  But  I  speak  of  the  rule.  Buy  for  cash,  and 
pay  as  you  go  —  or  go  without  —  except  in  extremity. 
Stick  a  pin  right  there,  my  lad." 

When  Morris  had  selected  his  new  working  clothes, 
and  fitted  himself  to  a  comfortable  but  heavy  pair  of 
stout  brogans,  the  old  man  noticed  the  stylish  city  shoes 
which  the  lad  had  worn  up  from  Boston,  and  smilingly 
remarked,  as  they  left  the  country  store  —  "  The  difference 
between  patent  leather  and  cow-hide  boots,  is  mostly  in 
the  shine,  lad  —  after  all !  " 

Morris  looked  down  at  his  genteel  glistening  gaiter- 
boots,  and  appreciated  the  force  of  his  good  friend's 
pleasant  allusion. 


A   HU3TDRZD   THOUSAND    DOLLAICS    IX    GOLD. 


**  But  you  won't  mind  this  change,  I  see.  It  need  not 
be  violent.  Take  hold  of  your  new  vocation  leisurely. 
You  may  do  well,  if  you  can  stan'  it." 

••  Never  fear  me,  sir.  I  have  known  what  hard  work 
m,  ere  this." 

**  Keep  out  of  debt  —  do  your  best  —  and  I  will  help 
you  to  get  on,  my  lad,"'  added  his  employer. 

**  Thank  you,  sir.  I  wfll  bear  your  advice  in  remem- 
hrmrr  It  isn't  comfortable  to  be  in  debt,  I  know." 

**  In  debt  f  It  is  to  be  in  bedlam,  boy !  Xever  run 
into  debt,  while  you  can  keep  out  of  it,  without  starving/' 

"You  never  have  occasion  to  purchase  any  thing,  on 
time,  I  take  it,  sir." 

44  Never.  My  fun  has  no  mortgage  or  lien  on  it.  My 
is  my  own,  paid  for,  when  delivered.  /  owe 
any  thing,  and  never  will.  When  I  increase  my 
in  any  way,  I  buy  for  cash.  I  sleep  the 
minder,  lad,  and  feel  the  freer  to  move  about  whither 

and  as  I  will,  in  consequence.     But  here  we  are.     Come 

_  -• 

They  had   reached    the    country  store,    which    they 
and  Morris  selected  a  ready-made  suit  of  stout 
a  good  pair  of  deming  overalls,  a  thin  jacket,  a 
summer  hat,  a  heavy  pair  of  working  bro- 
cld  Blount  paid  the  bill  —  fifteen  dollars,  for  the 
1::. 

The  sack  the  lad  had  on  cost  him  eighteen  dollars, 
—  in  Boston.     He  smiled,  remarked  that  this  was 


HOW    TO    MAKR    IT.  91 

an  economical  beginning,  at  any  rate,  and  together  pro 
prietor  and  man  returned  to  the  farm. 

Next  morning,  bright  and  early,  Morris  was  up  and 
out  in  the  stables,  seeing  to  the  feeding  of  the  cattle. 

"  Are  you  a  good  milker  ? "  inquired  the  old  man, 
coming  into  the  great  cow-barn,  a  moment  after  the  lad 
made  his  appearance  there. 

"I  used  to  be,  sir.  But  I  haven't  touched  a  cow's 
udder  for  three  years." 

"  Try  this  heifer,  then.  '  She's  a  little  oneasy  —  an' 
frisky  like.  But  it's  a  good  chance  to  ascertain  what  you 
can  do,  in  this  line,"  said  old  Blount,  who  rather  expected 
to  see  the  young  cit  kicked  across  the  barn  floor,  before 
he  got  through  with  his  attempt  upon  this  balky  young 
animal,  who  threw  her  head  up,  and  ears  forward,  as  the 
cleanly-dressed  stranger  approached  her,  cautiously,  milk- 
pail  in  hand. 

u  She's  an  Ayrshire,"  said  Morris,  looking  in  her  bright 
clear  handsome  face.  "  And  a  good  'un,  too." 

"That's  so,"  returned  Blount.  "Look  out  for  her, 
now.  She's  quicker'n  a  colt ;  an'  she'll  give  you  her  horn 
or  heel,  afore  you  cau  say  *  Jack  Robi'son,'  my  lad  —  if 
she  don't  take  to  you." 

The  young  man  went  straight  up  in  front  of  the  spunky 
beast,  placed  his  hand  gently  upon  her  muzzle,  stroked 
her  face,  talked  to  her  as  he  would  have  done  with  a  coy 
cosset,  and  in  five  minutes'  time  had  her  as  completely 
under  his  pleasant  influence  as  if  he  had  known  the  heifer 
all  her  life. 


92         A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Then,  smoothing  back  her  silky  coated  sides,  he  stooped 
and  commenced  to  draw  her  udder,  carefully  and  gently  — 
succeeding  in  clearing  her  milk-bag,  and  filling  the  pail, 
while  the  hitherto  mischievous  witch  stood  calmly  submit 
ting  to  the  handy  manipulation  of  the  late  broker's  clerk, 
as  if  she  rather  enjoyed  his  skilful  handling  and  kindly 
treatment ;  to  the  astonishment  of  old  Blount,  and  the 
admiration  of  the  other  two  men,  both  of  whom  had  had 
a  vast  deal  of  trouble,  previously,  with  what  they  called 
this  "  vicious  young  wench." 

"  Well  done,  my  lad,"  exclaimed  Blount.  "  You  can 
milk  a  cow,  that's  a  fact." 

"  No  trouble  with  her,  at  all  events,"  said  Morris,  tri 
umphantly.  kk  I'll  soon  get  my  hand  in,  again.  I  used  to 
be  clever  among  cattle,  when  I  was  a  boy.  I  like  'em. 
But  you  can't  abuse  an  Ayrshire,  or  an  Alderney. 
They're  high-strung,  in  the  blood,  sir.  I  know  'em." 

From  that  morning,  old  Blount  put  Morris  Deans  in 
charge  of  his  splendid  herd  of  milkers  ;  and  with  this 
little  performance,  commenced  his  new  experience  at 
Sunny  side  farm. 

"  Morris  Deans  is  the  handsomest  young  man  that  ever 
came  into  this  town,  mother,"  said  Eunice  Blount,  that 
forenoon,  as  the  old  lady  and  pretty  daughter  sat  together 
in  the  great  keeping-room. 

"  Handsome  is  that  handsome  does,  my  dear,"  returned 
the  mother,  looking  up  from  her  sewing,  at  her  child's 
animated  expression,  as  she  uttered  this  compliment  for 
the  new-comer. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  93 

"  Oh,  I  know  that,  mother.  But  isn't  he  a  nice  looking 
young  fellow." 

"  He  comes  from  the  town  —  where  he  has  been  well 
bred,  no  doubt.  And  his  appearance  is  greatly  in  his 
favor." 

"  Father  would  never  have  brought  him  here,  if  he 
hadn't  known  something  about  him,  of  course,  'but  he 
don't  look  much  like  a  farmer,  as  you  say,  that's  a  fact." 

44 1  can  remember  when  your  father  was  as  nice  looking 
a  young  man  as  Morris  is,  Eunice." 

"  As  genteel,  mother  ?  " 

"  Quite,  my  dear  !  " 

44  Ah,  you  think  so,  mother." 

44  I  know  so,  deary." 

44  Then  father  Blount  was  a  very  handsome  young  man, 
to  be  sure." 

44  So  he  was.     He  is  forty-eight  years  old,  now,  Eunice." 

44  Then  he  was  twenty  —  eh,  mother  ?  '* 

44  Yes.     That  is  Morris's  age,  to-day,  I  hear." 

44  And  I  am  twenty-one  —  mother." 

44  Yes,  deary.  Older  than  this  young  man  is.  What  of 
it,  Eunice  ?  " 

44  Oh  —  nothing  —  nothing,"  returned  the  girl,  softly,  as 
she  turned  aside,  and  resumed  her  work  upon  the  sampler 
she  was  busy  in  embroidering. 

44  You  have  dropped  a  stitch  in  your  work,  Eunice," 
observed  Mrs.  Blount,  leaning  forward  towards  her  daugh 
ter.  44  Two  !  Two  stitches  —  there.  Do  you  see  ?  " 


94  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  So  I  have,  mother,"  returned  Eunice,  coloring  up  a 
little. 

44  Pick  them  up,  and  be  more  careful,  then.  You'll 
spoil  your  pattern.  Here  comes  father." 

The  old  farmer  entered  to  take  his  early  lunch,  at  this 
moment. 

"  That  lad's  a  trump,"  he  said,  to  his  wife,  as  he  laid  his 
slouched  hat  upon  the  sideboard  edge. 

"Who,  father?" 

44  Young  Morris.  Smart  as  a  steel  trap,  and  as  vigorous 
as  a  two-year-old  stag.  We'll  make  a  man  of  him,  I  can 
tell  you,"  continued  the  old  gentleman,  briskly.  "  He 
don't  look  it,  but  he  knows  a  heap  more'n  the  average  of 
young  farmer-lads  that  I  have  ever  encountered." 

"  He  is  city  raised,  though,  you  said  ?  "  queried  Mrs.  B. 

44  Only  partially.  Morris  was  brought  up  to  farming  on 
the  Cape,  until  three  or  four  years  since,  and  he  hasn't 
forgot  his  early  training,  I  can  tell  you.  He's  got  a  little 
town-polish  on,  by  being  in  a  State  Street  broker's  office, 
o'  late.  But  this'll  soon  rub  off,  and  he  will  turn  out  a 
right  good  hand  for  us,  I've  no  doubt." 

And  so  he  did  —  to  be  sure. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW  MORRIS  MADE,  AND  SAVED  IT. 

THE  good-humored  proprietor  of  Sunnyside  was  de 
servedly  beloved  by  his  neighbors,  and  he  was  considered 
among  his  acquaintances  quite  an  oracle. 

His  opinions  were  respected,  and  he  was  relied  upon 
by  those  who  knew  him  best,  for  the  plain  reason  that  he 
was  devoid  of  cant  or  pretension,  and  his  honesty  and 
thrift  had  both  long  been  proverbial,  in  the  region  round 
about  Brandville. 

He  was  variously  known  among  the  people  as,  "good 
old  Blount,"  "  farmer  Blount,"  or  as  "  Uncle  Blount," 
among  the  children  of  the  neighborhood. 

The  little  ones  never  *  teased '  him,  and  he  loved  their 
merry  society,  though  he  had  but  a  single  child  he  called 
his  own — Miss  Eunice  —  now  grown  up  to  blooming 
womanhood. 

Whenever  "  uncle  Blount "  returned  from  market, 
where  he  frequently  went  to  the  shire  town  of  the  County 
with  his  load  of  vegetables,  lambs,  calves,  or  what-not, 
(for  he  attended  to  this  duty  himself,  personally,  many 

95 


96  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

years,)  his  wagon  or  hay-cart  would  be  crowded  with  the 
lads  and  lasses  of  the  village,  whom  he  brought  back  from 
school,  or  picked  up  on  the  road.  And  he  enjoyed  their 
noisy  rollicking  pleasure  and  antics  right  earnestly,  old  as 
he  was. 

In  haying-time,  when  the  cart  was  heaped  irp  with  its 
two-horse  load  of  new-made  hay,  on  its  way  to  the  barn 
from  the  fields,  old  Uncle  Blount  had  his  bevy  of  boys  and 
girls  upon  the  top  of  it,  snuggled  down  among  the  sweet 
odored  Timothy  and  clover,  as  regularly  as  he  went  and 
came,  during  the  early  harvest-season. 

"  Look  out,  now,  little  ones  !  "  he  would  cry,  in  caution 
ary  tones,  as  the  lively  nags  went  down  the  long  steep  hill, 
towards  the  farm-houses,  with  the  heavily  heaped-up  hay- 
load,  upon  the  top  of  which  were  ensconced  Tom,  Dick, 
and  Harry  —  with  Jennie,  Kate,  and  Posey. 

"  Look  sharp  now,  babies !  Don't  tumble  down  and 
crack  your  crown.  Steady  !  Whoa  —  there  !  Mind  yer 
eye,  ponies  I  "  [See  illustration,  page  79.] 

And  away  they  rolled,  homeward,  with  the  boys  yelling 
and  clinging  to  his  neck,  and  the  girls  shouting  with  laugh 
ter  and  fun,  as  Aunt  CfhloS  the  stalwart  colored  woman,  in 
the  centre  of  the  group,  hung  on  to  the  children,  and 
screamed  "  Mine  wot  yer  'bout  now,  boys !  Look  out 
whar'  yer  g'wine  —  mass'r  Bl'unt.  Don't  obertip  us. 
Hi  —  yah  I  'Ere  we  be — an'  all  right!  "  as  the  stalwart 
nags  scrambled  with  their  precious  burthen  in  upon  the 
shining  clean  barn-floor,  at  last,  in  safety. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  97 

Ah,  those  were  jolly  days  at  Sunny  side,  indeed !  Old 
Bloimt  was  never  happier  than  when  thus  surrounded  by 
the  little  folk,  who  loved  him  dearly  ;  and  for  whom  the 
steady  old  farmer  had  no  cross  words,  no  snarls,  no  churl 
ishness,  however  madly  they  pranked,  or  rioted,  in  their 
innocent  mirthfulness. 

'*  They're  seein'  their  best  days,"  he  would  say.  "  Let 
'em  enjoy  their  brief  happy  childhood.  I  love  'em  —  and 
they  love  me.  This  last  is  much  the  best !  They  are  the 
sweetest  boon  God  gives  us.  Let  'em  romp  and  scream. 
It  does  'em  good.  Ah  !  what  a  poor  world  would  this  be 
indeed,  without  the  smiling  faces  of  these  little  men  and 
women !  "  the  kind  old  farmer  would  exclaim,  as  he 
encouraged  the  antics  of  his  noisy  tiny  neighbors. 

Morris  Deans  went  straight  along  "  upon  an  even  keel," 
at  Sunnyside.  He  was  happy,  contented,  wellfed,  had 
good  pay,  and  really  found  that  he  was  not  called  upon  to 
work  very  hard  —  as  he  viewed  it  —  after  all. 

He  rose  early,  and  applied  himself  assiduously  to  duty, 
all  day  long.  This  had  been  his  habit  from  childhood. 
So  this  was  therefore  nothing  new,  or  irksome. 

Old  Blount  quickly  ascertained  that  he  could  employ 
this  young  man  to  better  account  than  by  setting  him  to 
cut  cord-wood !  He  was  the  best  hand  he  had  upon  his 
place,  among  cattle  and  horses.  He  could  accomplish  more 
at  any  work  he  undertook  to  do,  than  any  man  employed 
by  him.  He  was  a  splendid  penman,  and  he  could  keep 
his  accounts  far  neater  and  with  better  accuracy  than  he 
was  able  to  do,  himself. 


98  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

Thus  the  lad  came  quickly  to  render  himself  very  ser 
viceable  to  Blount,  who  appreciated  his  talents,  tact,  and 
good  disposition,  deservedly. 

By  the  time  that  the  first  fall  harvesting  came  roimd, 
Morris  had  got  to  be  quite  at  the  head  of  affairs,  out-of- 
doors,  upon  old  Blount's  farm. 

He  learned  a  little  every  day,  too.  He  was  a  good 
student  —  for,  he  said  to  himself,  shrewdly,  "now  is  my 
opportunity,  I  fancy  !  "  And  so  he  studied,  and  read,  and 
practised  experiments  upon  the  place,  and  among  the 
stock. 

All  of  which  his  employer  smilingly  approved,  from 
time  to  time — for  the  lad  was  strangely  successful  in  his 
little  schemes  and  innovations,  as  he  went  along,  and  made 
them  all  turn  in  a  goodly  revenue  for  farmer  Blount's 
benefit. 

And  meanwhile  Morris  had  profited  and  was  constantly 
improving  his  mind  largely,  through  the  timely  advice 
and  suggestions  which  the  experienced  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  made  to  his  young  friend,  as  they  toiled,  or  rode,  or 
walked,  and  chatted,  in  the  fields  or  at  their  leisure  at 
home. 

"  It  isn't  a  difficult  thing,  Morris,  to  make  money,"  said 
Blount,  one  day  as  they  sat  conversing  upon  business 
matters,  practically. 

"  That  is,  I  mean  to  say  that  it  is  not  hard  merely  to 
"make  money."  Anybody  can  do  this,  who  possesses 
ordinary  common  sense,  and  who  is  willing  to  work  for 
it." 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  99 

"  But  all  of  these  people  don't  get  rich,  nevertheless, 
sir." 

"  No.  And  that  was  what  I  was  just  about  to  explain, 
my  lad." 

"  It  is  easy  to  make  it  —  but  it  is  so  difficult  to  save  it, 
after  it  is  acquired.  I  have  somewhere  read  that  the 
Baron  Rothschild  asserts,  though  it  requires  a  deal  of 
boldness  and  caution  to  make  a  fortune,  when  you've  got 
it  it  requires  ten  times  as  much  good  wit  to  save,  or  keep 
it.  I  think  the  great  banker  is  right,  Morris." 

"  I  hope  I  may  one  day  have  a  competency,"  returned 
Morris,  "  of  my  own,  to  try  the  experiment  with !  I  reckon 
I  shall  be  able  to  keep  it,  if  I  ever  chance  to  get  it." 

"  A  competency,  eh  ?     Well,  Morris  —  what  is  that  ?  " 

"  Enough.     Sufficient." 

"  For  what  purpose  ?  " 

"  For  my  needs,  sir." 

"  Ah,  yes.  That  would,  in  your  view,  be  « enough '  — 
eh?" 

"  Enough  is  as  good  as  a  feast,  sir.  Nobody  wants 
more  than  enough,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Ah,  you  s'pose  —  eh  ?  Now,  tell  me,  lad.  Did  you 
ever  happen  to  know  any  one  who  had  '  enough  '  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir.  Speaking  for  myself,  I  never  had  any 
thing.  So  I  can  only  speak  of  others." 

"  Exactly.     That  is  my  question." 

"  Well,  sir  —  I  don't  call  to  mind  any  particular  indi 
vidual,  at  this  moment — "  continued  Morris,  thoughtfully, 


100        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  upon  whom  I  can  place  my  finger  —  who  —  was  abso 
lutely  satisfied  —  " 

"  Precisely,  my  boy.  That  is  it.  You  don't  find  any 
such  men,  in  this  world.  Nobody  has  really  enough." 

"I  guess  you  are  right,  sir  —  from  your  stand-point." 

"  Guess  I  am  ?  I  know  I  am.  Let  me  call  to  your 
notice  a  trite  illustration,  lad.  And  this  is  true,  the  whole 
world  over.  You  have  heard  this  story.  It  is  not  new, 
but  it  will  bear  retelling :  — 

"  A  man  of  wealth  had  grand  possessions,  and  was 
measurably  satisfied  with  his  fortune.  He  saw  around 
him  many  who  envied  him,  who  were  well-to-do,  but  not 
so  rich  as  he. 

" 4  None  are  content  with  the  lot  which  Fortune  bestows 
upon  them  —  be  it  great  or  small,'  he  said.  *  There  is 
no  man  who  has  enough,  whatever  may  be  his  accumula 
tions  ! ' 

"  And  at  once  he  went  to  work  to  prove  his  assumed 
position,  for  his  own  gratification.  He  sent  for  a  painter, 
and  ordered  him  to  put  these  words  conspicuously  upon 
a  large  sign-board :  — 

THIS  FINE   ESTATE,  FREE  FROM 
ENCUMBRANCE,   WILL  BE  GIVEN  AWAY 
BY  THE   OWNER,   TO   THE   HAPPY  MAN 

CONTENTED   WITH   HIS   LOT, 
WHO  POSSESSES  ENOUGH.       WHO  TAKES   IT? 

"  This  sign  was  placed  upon  a  pole,  and  displayed  by 
the  road-side,  in  front  of  the  rich  man's  door. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  101 

"  Everybody  who  passed,  stopped  to  read  this  seemingly 
unselfish  but  eccentric  proposition.  The  poor  man 
growled,  and  went  by.  The  well-to-do  smiled,  and  said 
'it  is  a  good  jest.'  The  rich,  but  grasping,  noted  it  and 
exclaimed  '  he  is  mad  —  he  wouldn't  do  this  foolish 
thing.' 

"  And  then  a  canting  avaricious  neighbor  came,  and 
claimed  the  estate  ;  for,  he  affirmed,  "  I  am  content  with 
my  fortune  :  I  have  enough,  thank  Heaven  !  So,  give  me 
the  title-deed." 

"  Are  you  sincere  ?  "  demanded  the  rich  man. 

"  Indeed  I  am." 

"  You  are  contented  with  your  lot  ?  " 

"  I  am,  sir." 

"  And  you  have  enough  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  pretender. 

"  In  fortune's  name,  then,  what  do  you  want  of  my 
estate  ?  "  demanded  the  nabob.  "  Get  away  with  you." 

Morris  smiled,  and  '  saw  the  point,'  he  said.     • 

"  No,  my  lad.  We  none  of  us  have  ever  reached  that 
happy  condition  where  we  think  we  have  enough." 

"  I  should  call  enough  —  say  twenty  thousand  dollars 
that  I  could  count  my  own,"  asserted  Morris,  confidently. 

"  This  is  the  height,  then,  of  your  aspirations  —  eh, 
Morris  ?  " 

"  It  is,  just  now,  sir." 

"  Then  you  have  changed  your  mind,  perhaps,  upon 
this  point?" 


102  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Well,  sir  —  I  used  to  think  that  if  I  ever  counted  up 
ten  thousand  dollars,  of  my  own,  I  should  be  content 
with  it." 

"  Now  you  think  twenty  thousand  ?  " 

"  Twenty  —  yes,  sir." 

"  So  you  perceive  even  you  are  not  content !  Ten  isn't 
•  enough.'  So  would  not  twenty  be,  my  lad." 

"  I  trust  I  may  live  to  see  the  ten  thousand,"  said  Deans, 
cheerfully,  "  notwithstanding." 

"  Well,  you  are  doing  very  well,  lad.  Go  on.  Earn  — 
save  —  and  KEEP.  That  is  the  secret.  It  isn't  the  acquir 
ing  simply.  When  you  get  it,  keep  it." 

"  Thank  you,  sir  —  I  am  listening,"  returned  the  young 
man,  dutifully. 

"  What  is  your  age,  Morris  ?  " 

"  Twenty,  come  Christmas,  sir." 

"You  will  then  have  been  at  Sunnyside,  if  we  live, 
eight  months." 

"  Exactly,  sir." 

"  It  isn't  far  away.  The  fall  work  is  nigh  concluded. 
You  are  out  of  debt,  I  hope  ?  " 

"  O,  yes  sir  —  long  ago." 

"  And  you  have  some  money  in  the  Savings  Bank,  I 
know." 

"  Thanks  to  your  generosity  —  yes  sir.    But  not  much." 

"How  much,  then?" 

"  Less  than  a  hundred  dollars,  sir.  But,  with  the  wages 
you  have  paid  me,  and  the  little  opportunities  you  have 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  103 

allowed  me  to  make  a  few  dollars,  otherwise,  from  the 
fancy  poultry  and  cosset  lambs  I  have  raised,  I  shall  be 
able  to  add  another  hundred  to  this,  by  New  Year's." 

"  Good.  From  that  time,  I  will  increase  your  pay,  Mor 
ris,  to  thirty  dollars  a  month,  in  cash,  for  the  coming 
year." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  I  will  endeavor  to  deserve  your 
favor,"  returned  the  lad,  gratefully. 

"  Next  year  you  shall  have  all  you  can  make  from  the 
sale  of  your  fowls  and  lambs,  too." 

"  Thanks,  sir." 

"  And  now,  let  me  tell  you  another  little  story,  upon 
the  subject  we  sat  down  to  talk  about,  my  lad,"  continued 
Blount. 

"  I  was  raised  a  farmer,  Morris.  I  served  seven  years 
—  after  I  left  school,  at  near  fourteen  —  under  a  hard 
master,  but  an  honest  man. 

"  He  paid  me  less  than  half  the  wages  you  are  earning, 
now ;  but  he  instilled  into  my  young  mind,  through  con 
stant  urgent  advice,  what  was  ten  times  over  of  more 
value  to  me  than  the  mere  money  he  grudgingly  allowed 
me.  He  taught  me  the  "  hidden  art  "  that  I  have  striven 
to  impart  to  you,  my  lad :  to  wit,  how  to  make  and  save 
money." 

"  I  am  listening,  sir." 

"  When  I  was  twenty-one  years  old,  I  struck  out  for 
myself.  I  had  in  bank  eight  hundred  dollars.  This  I  had 
saved  —  in  seven  long  years  of  straight  hard  toil." 


104        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  A  little  fortune,  sir  !  " 

"A  very  little  one.  But  I  bought,  with  this  —  and 
paid  for  it,  remember,  cash  on  the  nail  —  the  piece  of 
ground  lying  yonder,  by  the  brook,  some  sixteen  acres." 

"  This  was  long  ago,  sir?  " 

"Yes.  Almost  thirty  years.  I  went  to  work  in  ear 
nest,  then,  bought  two  or  three  head  of  cattle,  half  a  dozen 
sheep,  a  flock  of  poultry,  built  the  little  shanty  you  see 
under  the  brow  of  the  hill  —  which  aunt  Ohloe*  occupies 
now  —  and  paid  for  every  thing,  as  I  went  along.  I  made 
a  few  hundred  dollars,  and  saved  it,  in  the  next  three 
years." 

"  A  bachelor  ?  " 

"Yes.  You  shall  see.  Then  I  bought —  and  paid  for  — 
this  piece  of  upland,  on  our  right.  This  gave  me  twenty 
acres  more.  Land  was  then  high,  in  this  region,  at  five- 
and-twenty  dollars  the  acre.  Two  years  afterwards,  I 
owned  the  thirty  acres  on  our  left.  And  all  was  paid  for." 

"  You  were  making  money,  sir." 

"  So  I  was.  But  slowly,  yet.  Next  year,  I  married  the 
daughter  of  the  builder  of  this  house.  The  old  man 
died.  His  farm  was  mortgaged.  I  bought  it  at  the  subse 
quent  foreclosure  sale,  and  paid  for  it,  mind  you.  My  wife 
proved  a  prudent  careful  frugal  woman.  We  went  on 
happily,  together  —  and  Eunice  came  to  bless  us. 

"  My  live  stock  increased.  I  have  raised  hundreds  of 
fine  cattle,  good  horses,  and  sheep  here.  I  still  bought 
land,  adjoining  me  on  either  side  —  and  always  paid  for  it, 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  105 

when  I  bought  it.  To-day  I  have  got  two  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  in  as  good  a  farm  as  stands  out  of  doors, 
beneath  the  sun.  And  it's  mine,  lad.  My  own.  I  began 
with  not  a  thousand  dollars  in  cash,  earned  with  my  own 
hands,  less  than  thirty  years  ago.  You  couldn't  buy 
"  Sunnyside  "  for  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold, 
to-day,  lad  —  if  I  wanted  to  sell  it —  which  I  don't." 

"  It  is  a  nice  place,  sir." 

"  I  earned,  it  boy.  No  speculating,  no  dodges,  no  dwarf 
pear-tree  or  tulip-humbugs,  no  indolence,  no  rum,  no 
cheatery — brought  me  up  to  where  I  stand,  now." 

"  No  doubt  of  that,  sir." 

"  At  twenty,  Morris,  you  will  have  two  hundred  dollars, 
you  say  —  in  hand  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  You  have  heard  my  proposals,  for  next  year  ?  " 

"  I  have,  sir." 

"  You  accept  ?  " 

"  With  gratitude." 

"  It  is  simply  your  due  —  this  increase,  Morris.  At 
twenty-one  years  old,  you  may  have  at  command  fully 
eight  hundred  dollars,  in  cash,  if  you  follow  my  sugges 
tions.  Get  it,  and  save  it." 

"I  appreciate  this  advice." 

"You  have  begun  aright,  lad.  And  you  will  make 
your  fortune,  if  you  go  on  steadily,  and  persistently. 
Thus  only  can  you  make  money  —  in  reality." 

"  I  value  your  good  counsel,  sir." 


106        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  Over  and  above  all,  Morris,"  added  Blount,  seriously, 
44  we  should  bear  in  mind  what  is  the  true  enjoyment  of 
the  good  that  God  provides  us  Avith.  It  is  easy  to  get,  but 
not  so  easy  to  save  and  keep  it.  It  is  harder  still  to  learn 
how  to  enjoy  it,  wisely  and  rationally. 

44  The  greatest  enemy  in  life  is  over-indulgence,  in  one 
form  or  another.  The  lowering  of  the  true  standard 
perils  the  length  of  the  course.  We  should  be  industri 
ous,  enterprising,  and  ambitious  ;  but  withal,  we  should 
be  prudent,  sound  in  judgment,  and  always  firm  in  our 
self-control.  To  the  absolute  command  of  one's  appetites, 
he  owes  his  average  length  of  days,  yet  not  this  conti 
nuity  alone.  But  that  which  gives  our  lives  the  power 
to  enjoy,  and  which  makes  our  increased  and  increasing 
existence  worthy  of  being  called  44  a  lease  of  life,"  and  not 
a  simple  dull  drowsy  stupor  —  my  lad. 

44  In  whatever  we  do,  we  should  be  zealous  to  "  act  well 
our  part ;  there  all  the  honor  lies."  A  good  German 
writer  embodies  a  life's  lesson  in  a  few  words,  when  he 
tells  us  that  "  art  is  long,  life  is  short,  good  judgment 
difficult,  and  opportunity  fleeting." 

44  To  act  is  easy.  To  think  well,  is  more  difficult.  To 
act  according  to  our  thoughts  and  promptings,  always,  is 
troublesome.  All  beginnings  are  agreeable,  since  the 
threshold  is  the  place  of  expectation.  The  boy  is  aston 
ished.  His  impressions  guide  him.  He  learns,  as  he 
plays.  Earnestness  comes  upon  him  by  surprise. 

44  The  spirit  in  which  we  act,  is  the  chief   matter  of 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  109 

consequence.  Action  can  only  be  understood  and  repre 
sented  by  the  spirit.  No  one  knows  what  he  is  doing, 
while  he  acts  rightly.  Of  what  is  wrong,  however,  he 
will  always  be  conscious.  The  true  student  learns  from 
the  known  to  unfold  the  unknown  —  and  by  degrees  he 
gradually  comes  to  be  the  master,"  concluded  Blount,  as 
they  separated. 

The  hut  across  the  fields,  upon  the  first  lot  of  land  he 
purchased  years  previously,  and  to  which  Blount  called 
the  attention  of  Morris,  was  occupied  by  Aunt  Chloe*  and 
her  little  negro  family. 

Her  husband  worked  upon  the  farm  when  he  was  able, 
but  he  had  been  an  invalid  for  a  year  or  two,  from  an 
injury  he  encountered  through  a  fall.  Uncle  Phillip,  her 
father  —  a  fine  looking  white  haired  old  negro,  tilled  the 
garden-patch  near  the  shant}^  for  their  benefit,  a  privilege 
allowed  them  by  farmer  Blount  without  rental  in  consid 
eration  of  the  old  negro's  former  services  on  the  place. 

The  colored  family  thus  dwelt  "  under  their  own  vine 
and  fig-tree,"  virtually.  But  Uncle  Phillip  had  got  past 
toiling  very  hard,  for  he  was  over  seventy  years  of  age  — 
and  his  daughter,  who  did  good  service  daily  at  the  farm 
house,  earned  sufficient  to  keep  them  all  quite  comforta 
ble,  in  their  small  way. 

Chloe*'s  baby  was  this  old  gran'ther's  pet,  and  while 
she  was  away  about  her  work  up  at  the  mansion,  the  care 
of  the  little  one  was  frequently  left  to  Uncle  Phillip  — 
who  took  great  pleasure  in  amusing  and  looking  after 
this  sable  young  'un. 


110       A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

It  required  little  to  gratify  the  old  man,  now  !  In  his 
younger  years,  Uncle  Phillip  had  been  quite  an  artist  with 
the  violin — for  those  days  —  and  many  a  village  dance 
had  been  enjoyed  by  the  rustics,  with  darkey  Phillip  as 
chief  fiddler.  But  he  had  long  since  laid  down  de  shovel 
an'  de  hoe,  so  far  as  any  very  hard  work  went;  and,  for 
the  most  part,  he  had  hung  up  de  fiddle  an'  de  bow,  too 
— ^except  when  he  occasionally  took  the  latter  in  hand 
for  his  own  recreation,  or  to  please  the  round-headed 
pickaninny  that  called  Chloe  "  mam'." 

Sometimes  he  would  set  this  darkey  child  in  his  high 
chair,  beneath  the  vines  in  the  shadow  of  the  hut,  and 
with  his  old  violin  in  hand,  for  himself  and  the  baby  he 
would  recall  past  hours  —  and  realize  "  that  simple  pleas 
ure  which  in  memory  lives,  and  unto  age  or  childhood 
equal  pleasure  gives." 

Occasionally  a  Yankee  neighbor  would  halt  at  the  hut, 
or  the  passing  drover  would  seat  himself  for  a  few  min 
utes'  rest,  as  he  was  going  by  with  his  flocks  or  herd  to 
market ;  for  everybody  knew  the  gray  headed  old  darkey, 
and  respected  him  for  his  rare  good  character  and  genial 
habits. 

Poor  old  Uncle  Phillip !  He  was  a  kindhearted  ster 
ling  man  —  and  long  since  went  "  where  all  the  good 
darkies  go,"  when  they  quit  this  sphere  of  toil  and 
trouble  !  A  likeness  of  the  good  old  pilgrim,  who  for  the 
nonce  calls  up  the  memory  of  "  the  days  long  past  and 
gone,"  while  he  strikes  the  bump  of  harmony  in  the 


HOW  TO   MAKE    IT.  Ill 

youngster  darkey's  cranium,  until  it  thrills  the  young 
un's  little  great  toe  —  will  be  found  facing  page  106. 

The  next  year,  (after  Morris  and  Blount  had  had  this 
talk,)  opened  prosperously.  Young  Deans  did  n'ot  forget 
his  employer's  earnest  suggestions,  and  he  carried  out  his 
proposed  plans,  to  the  letter. 

The  following  summer,  the  young  man  had  accumulated 
over  three  hundred  dollars  more,  which  he  added  to  his 
previous  Christmas  two  hundred,  in  the  Savings  Bank. 

He  sold  more  lambs  of  his  own  raising,  a  two-year-old 
colt,  whose  life  he  had  saved,  after  he  had  been  left  to  die 
with  colic,  (and  which  old  Blunt  gave  him,  outright), 
more  fancy  fowls  —  and  he  saved  the  bulk  of  his  wages. 

The  interest  on  his  little  accumulations  amounted  to 
something.  He  husbanded  every  thing,  for  himself  and 
for  his  employer.  He  worked  hard,  earnestly,  duteously, 
and  cheerfully. 

His  health  continued  excellent.  He  grew  in  stature  and 
comeliness.  And  at  twenty-one,  Morris  Deans  had  six 
teen  hundred  dollars  in  cash,  that  he  had  earned  with  his 
own  honest  hands  and  intelligent  brain. 

"  Twice  as  much  as  I  had,  Morris,  at  your  age,"  said 
the  old  man,  kindly. 

"  I  have  followed  your  advice,  sir  —  " 

"  And  you  have  won  !  " 

"  Thus  much,  sir  ;  thanks  to  your  kindness,  and  that  of 
your  excellent  family." 

"  Now  —  what  do  you  propose  to  do  ?  You  are  '  your 
own  man,'  from  to-day,  lad." 


112  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

44 1  intend  to  go  right  on,  Mr.  Blount,  unless  you  desire 
a  change,"  responded  Morris. 

"  No !  Remain.  You  shall  name  your  own  terms  for 
the  future,  my  lad.  I  can't  well  do  without  you,  now.  I 
am  getting  in  years,  boy.  Fifty,  next  summer." 

44  You  don't  look  it,  then." 

44  Ah,  well.     Never  mind." 

Morris  Deans  did  remain  at  Sunnyside.  And,  with  his 
sixteen  hundred  good  dollars,  he  4  went  right  on ; '  — 
where  we  will  leave  him,  to  learn  what  became  of  Ford- 
ham,  Meyers,  Ely,  and  the  rest — since  we  have  seen  how 
the  boy  4  began  to  make  and  save  money  '  among  the  fancy 
live  stock  on  old  Blount's  farm. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


How  Frank  Meyers  made  and  used  his  earlier  earn 
ings,  we  have  seen. 

Born  and  reared  in  Boston,  he  had  been  bred  in  a  retail 
dry-goods  establishment  there  —  to  sell  ribbons,  tape,  and 
domestics. 

He  was  a  whole-hearted,  generous  fellow  —  as  we  have 
shown  —  ready,  when  called  on,  to  part  with  his  watch, 
shirt-studs,  or  boots,  if  need  be,  to  help  a  friend  in  ad 
versity. 

But  he  was  quite  as  competent  as  the  average  salesman 
of  his  day,  and  as  ambitious  as  the  best  of  them  ;  though, 
like  a  thousand  others  at  the  time  of  the  panic,  he  was 
thrown  out  of  business  and  could  not  get  into  position 
again,  in  the  city  where  he  had  been  educated. 

So  he  took  himself  to  New  York  —  at  a  venture  —  where 
he  hoped  to  find  some  opening,  in  which  his  good  services 
and  admirable  talents  might  be  appreciated. 

With  all  Frank's  kindness  of  disposition,  and  ready  will 
to  perform  any  gracious  offices  for  those  he  esteemed  — 

113 


114        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

with  all  his  natural  tact,  and  goodly  rearing  —  he  unfortu 
nately  lacked  one  valuable  and  important  constituent  in 
his  composition,  to  wit,  a  business  balance-wheel. 

Frank  could  say  "  Yes,"  a  hundred  times  in  a  week,  if 
his  friends  and  acquaintances  asked  his  help,  (when  he  had 
the  ability  to  comply  with  their  wishes  for  "  a  trifling 
loan,"  for  example),  but  he  never  could  say  "  No ! " 

He  was  always  '  flush'  —  or  appeared  to  be,  in  prosper 
ous  times  —  and  he  had  hosts  of  borrowing  friends  who, 
naturally,  had  informed  themselves  touching  this  weak 
ness  of  "  clever  Frank  Meyers." 

But  the  end  came.  The  panic  wound  up  his  employers, 
and  Frank  went  to  the  wall,  for  the  time  being,  with  the 
other  unfortunates  who  were  "  thrown  on  their  oars,"  if 
they  happened  to  have  any  such  handy  implement  to  fall 
back  upon. 

Morris  Deans  had  seasonably  refunded  the  money  Frank 
had  advanced  for  his  unpaid  board-bill  at  the  Widow 
Bean's.  Ely  Hawes  had  not  been  able  to  accomplish  this 
little  affair,  conveniently,  so  promptly.  But  Ely  was  as 
honest  as  the  sun,  in  his  good  intentions,  and  he  too  at  last 
one  day  paid  up.  When  he  succeeded  in  maturing  his  in 
vention,  and  had  got  his  valuable  patent  out,  for  that  same, 
he  had  calculated  upon  a  harvest. 

Meyers  went  to  New  York,  after  beating  the  bush 
thoroughly  in  Boston,  and  catching  no  bird.  And  there 
he  encountered  an  agent  in  the  Domestic  Goods  trade, 
largely  connected  with  the  leading  cotton  mills  at  Lowell. 
Manchester,  and  Lawrence. 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  115 

This  party  desired  the  services  of  a  buyer  of  domestics 

—  who  knew  what  this  class  of  goods  was ;  and  he  was 
aware  that  Frank  had  had  good  opportunity  in  previous 
years   to   make    himself    acquainted   with   these    fabrics, 
thoroughly.     Indeed,  there  were  few  young  men  in  Bos 
ton,  at  that  period,  who  really  were  so  conversant  with 
the  styles  and  manufactures   of  the  great  New  England 
factories. 

Thus  Frank  stepped  into  a  splendid  position,  almost 
directly  on  his  arrival  at  the  leading  metropolis  of  the 
country,  at  a  salary  of  four  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 
It  was  a  god-send,  to  be  sure !  But  Meyers  was  quite 
equal  to  the  place  proposed  to  him,  and  he  entered  upon 
his  new  duties  with  wondrous  energy  and  corresponding 
success,  as  it  eventuated. 

But  the  city  of  New  York  is  very  unlike  the  city  of 
Boston.  The  Boston-bred  clerk  (as  a  rule)  is  not  the  sort 
of  man  that  gets  on,  always1,  in  Gotham. 

Some  do  —  we  admit.  But  more  do  not.  And  Frank 
Meyers  chanced  to  be  one  of  the  former.  So  far  as  the 
satisfactory  performance  of  his  business  duties  was  con 
cerned,  he  filled  the  full  measure  of  his  employers'  best 
anticipations.  And  so  far  as  his  knowledge  of  his  business 
was  involved,  none  could  do  better  than  he  did,  to  the  end. 

But 

Well,  we  will  explain  what  happened  to  our  friend 
Frank  Meyers,  the  dry-goods  clerk  ;  how  he  made  money 

—  and  lent  it. 


116  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

Frank  had  always  been  a  money-lender,  at  home,  in  his 
small  way.  Not  inconsiderable  for  him,  however,  because 
he  contrived  through  one  u  friend  "  or  another,  to  lend  all 
he  had,  from  time  to  time.  And  this  was  not  a  heavy 
surplus  in  the  early  days  —  in  Boston. 

When  he  got  to  New  York,  his  salary  was  immediately 
increased  sevenfold  in  amount,  annually  !  What  should 
he  do  with  his  money  ?  he  queried. 

He  had  few  acquaintances  in  Gotham,  at  first,  and  his 
funds  accumulated  on  his  hands,  for  he  was  addicted  to 
no  bad  habits.  He  did  not  drink,  or  smoke,  or  gamble. 
But  he  was  flush,  again ;  and  he  was  willing  to  do  all  the 
good  he  could  —  in  his  thoughtless  way  —  for  others,  with 
his  surplus  means. 

He  had  redeemed  his  Adams  watch,  he  had  paid  every 
debt  he  owed  in  the  world,  and  he  had  a  thousand  dollars 
over,  in  cash,  at  the  end  of  eight  months  from  the  time 
he  parted  with  Morris  Deans  and  Ely  Hawes,  in  New 
England. 

Now  he  had  located  himself  permanently  in  New  York. 

He  frequently  visited  Boston  however,  in  the  way  of 
business.  He  went  to  Lowell,  to  Nashua,  to  Manchester, 
etc.,  and  purchased  enormous  quantities  of  cotton  goods 
for  his  New  York  employers,  to  great  advantage. 

Still  his  money  accumulated,  for  he  had  never  enjoyed 
such  a  liberal  salary  before,  and  he  couldn't  (or  didn't) 
expend  a  fourth  part  of  his  annual  income  of  four  thou 
sand  dollars,  upon  himself. 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  117 

He  sought  out  poor  toiling  anxious  Ely  Hawes,  at 
length  —  during  one  of  his  Eastern  visits,  and  the  two 
former  companions  had  a  generous  sit-down  at  Parker's, 
where  Frank  told  his  impoverished  friend  about  the  rare 
good  success  that  had  attended  him,  through  the  change 
he  had  made  in  quitting  slow  Boston,  and  locating  in  fast 
New  York. 

"  Glad  to  hear  of  your  good  fortune,  Frank,"  said  Ely, 
sincerely.  "You  must  be  getting  rich,  too  —  as  Morris 
Deans  is.  And  it  will  not  be  many  years  before  you  will 
realize  your  former  talked-of  hopes,  I  suppose.  Do  you 
remember  ?  " 

"  Ah,  yes,"  returned  Frank.     "  What  was  our  mark  ?  " 

"A  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  gold,"  replied  Ely, 
with  a  long-drawn  sigh.  "  Egad !  It's  a  good  way  off 
in  the  dim  perspective  for  me,  though,  Frank.  But  you 
are  really  beginning  to  approach  the  goal  of  your  antici 
pations,  I  judge." 

"  I  am  doing  splendidly,  Ely.  I  wish  you  were  also  on 
the  high  road  to  fortune.  And  I  am  rejoiced  to  know 
that  our  young  friend  Morris  has  made  such  a  hit  as  I 
hear  he  has,  with  old  Blount.  He  is  a  deserving  good 
fellow." 

"  Yes.  Deans  is  getting  on  finely,  and  the  rich  old 
farmer  thinks  there's  nobody  like  the  broker's  lad  he 
picked  up  in  Boston,  two  or  three  years  ago,"  continued 
Hawes.  "  He  saves  his  money,  though  —  as  well  as  makes 
it.  What  do  you  do  with  yours,  Frank  ?  " 


118  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"Nothing,  much.  I  bank  it.  And  loan  it  "on  call," 
sometimes.  And  I  get  round  interest,  too.  But  this  is 
risky,  I  suppose.  And  I  tell  my  brokers  to  keep  an  eye 
open  to  the  paying  securities  that  are  being  offered,  nowa 
days.  I'll  make  my  pile,  Ely.  I'll  have  the  hundred 
thousand,  sure.  But  it  isn't  accomplished  in  a  year  — 
you  know  —  or  two,  or  three ;  except  in  especially  fortu 
nate  instances." 

"  You  are  prospering,  Frank." 

"  So  I  am,  Ely.  I  know  it.  This  year,  my  salary  has 
been  increased.  Did  I  tell  you  ?  " 

"  No  !     How  much  ?  " 

"  Fifty  per  cent." 

"  Six  thousand  dollars  a  year  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Formerly,  I  thought  six  hundred  good  fair  pay, 
in  quiet  steady  Boston." 

"I  remember — yes.  If  I  had  but  a  sixth  part  of  that 
income,  Frank,  I'd  be  a  man  of  wealth  in  ten  years'  time, 
as  sure  as  you  live." 

"  How,  my  boy  ?  " 

"  With  my  patent  lock,  of  course." 

"  O  yes.  I  recollect  your  hobby,  Ely.  You  haven't 
given  that  over,  yet  —  eh  ?  " 

"  No,  my  dear  fellow.  And  I  never  will.  I  shall  win 
my  fortune  through  this  means.  But  the  time  has  not 
yet  come  for  me.  It  costs  too  much  to  put  it  through, 
you  see." 

"  How  much,  Ely  ?  " 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT.  119 

"  Eight  or  ten  hundred  dollars,  at  the  least  —  to  patent 
it  and  put  it  on  the  market.  And  it  takes  time,  too.  But 
I'll  do  it  —  be  sure  I  will  —  sooner  or  later;"  exclaimed 
persevering  Ely  Hawes,  with  emphasis. 

"  How  much  money  have  you  got  towards  accomplish 
ing  this  enterprise,  to-day,  Ely?" 

"Not  one  third,  as  yet.  But  I  have  filed  my  caveat, 
got  my  first  paper  out,  and  the  thing  is  all  secured  against 
infringement,  for  a  few  years.  Meantime,  I  am  pegging 
away  —  saving  all  I  can  from  my  moderate  earnings  — 
laying  by  a  little,  year  by  year  —  and  by  and  by  I'll  have 
enough  to  take  this  bull  by  the  horns.  When  I  can  get 
this  lock  of  mine  upon  the  market,  and  make  it  known, 
there's  a  good  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  it,  Frank,  as 
sure  as  my  name  is  Hawes." 

"  That's  talking  it  right  smartly,  Ely." 

"  Just  as  I  mean  it." 

"  And  you  ought  to  know." 

"  I  do,  my  boy." 

"  And  you  want  only  a  thousand  dollars  to  make  every 
thing  work  smooth,  and  lovely?" 

"Ah,  that  would  be  ample.  But  I  must  wait.  I  can 
afford  it.  I'm  one  o'  the  staying  kind,  as  you  know, 
Frank.  But  I'll  creep  up  alongside  o'  my  friends,  after  a 
while — be  sure  of  it,  old  fellow." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  Ely.  But  you  ought  not  to  remain 
here  with  it." 

"  Where  —  else,  then  ?  " 


120        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  New  York  is  your  field,  my  boy." 

"  No.     Not  at  present." 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  can't  afford  it,  Frank." 

44  But  there  is  where  you  may  find  a  customer,  if  you 
have  really  got  what  you  think  you  have,  my  dear  fellow." 

44  A  customer  ?     For  what  ?  " 

44  For  your  patent." 

44  It  isn't  for  sale,  Frank." 

44  Not  at  a  price  ?  " 

44  Well.     Yes  —  of  course." 

44  How  much,  for  instance  ?  " 

44  A  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  gold.  Not  a  dime 
less." 

44  Ah,  I  see.  Yes.  Well  —  I  suppose  you  prefer  a  long 
price,  and  time  to  make  it  in  —  in  lieu  of  a  quick  penny, 
shortly  earned." 

44  It  is  worth  that  to  me — in  the  end.  That  is  my 
mark,  and  for  that  I  am  toiling,  and  shall  continue  to  toil, 
until  I  achieve  it,  Frank." 

44  Come  to  New  York,  Ely.  And  I  will  help  you  to 
gain  your  object,"  said  Meyers,  kindly. 

44  Not  now.  No  —  thank  you,  Frank.  O,  I  am  getting 
on.  It  will  all  come  out  right,  by  and  by.  I  am  not 
impatient,  but  I  am  poor.  I  know  what  I  have  got,  my 
boy.  Come !  We  have  dined  sumptuously.  Go  with  me 
to  my  rooms.  I  will  show  you  my  working  model.  It  is 
completed  —  and  in  perfect  condition.  I  cannot  improve 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  121 

it.  But  I  have  not  the  means,  as  yet,  to  push  it.  So  I 
must  wait." 

The  two  former  associates  went  to  Ely's  cosey  lodgings 
at  once,  and  the  young  inventor  exhibited  his  achievement 
with  glowing  pride  to  his  friend  —  which  he  briefly 
described. 

Frank  saw  a  square  dummy  safe  standing  in  the  centre 
of  Ely's  apartment,  and  Hawes  thus  expatiated  upon  the 
hobby  of  his  life.  It  was  of  wood,  painted  dead  black, 
in  imitation  of  the  real  thing  —  and  the  lock  was  at 
tached,  in  form,  upon  the  inner  side. 

"  I  call  my  invention  the  "  Impenetrable  Bank-Safe 
Lock,"  said  Ely.  "  The  original  device  is  upon  this  imi 
tation  safe,  which  is  now  closed,  as  you  see." 

"  Where  ? "  asked  Frank,  walking  around  the  square 
box,  each  and  all  sides  of  which  were  precisely  alike, 
outwardly. 

The  machinist  smiled. 

"  That  is  what  I  want  you  to  ascertain,  my  friend  ! 
You  are  supposed  now  to  be  a  lock-picker  —  an  expert  — 
a  burglar,  or  whatever  you  please.  Now,  get  into  that 
safe.  It  is  secured  with  my  new  lock.  I  undertake  to 
say  that  it  is  just  what  I  have  named  it.  A  bank  or 
counting-house  safe  fastened  with  this  lock  of  mine,  is 
simply  impenetrable  to  burglars.  You  can't  get  into  it  — 
without  my  key  ;  and  only  then,  with  a  knowledge  of  my 
secret  mode  of  opening  it." 

"  Where  is  the  door  handle  ?  " 


122        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  There  is  no  handle." 

"  How  the  deuse  can  I  see  where  to  begin,  then  ?  " 

"  You  can't,  my  boy !  " 

"  Open  the  door,  then  —  and  let  me  see  the  lock,  Ely." 

Hawes  passed  around  the  rear  of  the  dummy,  touched 
a  concealed  spring,  and  the  outer  casing  flew  open,  of 
itself. 

"  That  is  very  well,"  observed  Meyers. 

"  Now  proceed,"  returned  Ely. 

Frank  sought  for  the  lock  described. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  asked  his  friend. 

"  Nothing,"  said  Frank. 

"  Go  on,  then,  my  dear  fellow." 

" This  is  a  sell,  Ely  —  eh?" 

"  Not  at  all.     It  is  right  before  you." 

"  But  I  don't  see  it,  nevertheless." 

The  inventor  smiled,  again. 

"  It  is  a  wheel  within  a  wheel,  Frank." 

"  A  lock  within  a  lock,  you  mean  ?  " 

"Well  —  yes.  If  you  choose  to  call  it  so,"  returned 
Ely,  amused  at  his  companion's  remark.  "But  it  is  all 
there." 

"  Very  good,"  exclaimed  Frank.  "  Now,  where  is  the 
lock?" 

"  Here,  before  you,"  returned  Ely.  "  And  here  is  the 
key.  Now  oblige  me.  Unlock  that  safe,  my  good  fel 
low." 

"You  call  this  a  key?" 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  123 

"  That  is  the  key  to  my  secret  lock,  Frank." 

"But  it  is  simply  a  knob  —  and  it  turns  round  and 
round,  interminably,"  said  Meyers,  working  it  about. 

"  I  know  it.  That  is  a  part  of  the  patent  combination 
I  have  invented.  And  you  may  turn  it  round,  till  dooms 
day.  Until  you  have  the  secret,  you  can't  unlock  it. 
Try  it  on,  Frank.  Turn  away." 

Meyers  did  so  —  but  made  no  progress,  whatever. 

"Now  —  let  me  help  you,"  said  Ely.  "And  I  will  do 
just  what  you  have  alreadj^  done,  precisely,  as  you  shall 
see.  But  probably  with  a  different  result." 

Ely  stooped  forward,  took  the  knob  in  his  hand,  and 
turned  it  round,  as  Frank  had  done. 

The  same  click-click  followed  the  motions  of  his  fingers 
as  had  occurred  with  Meyers.  And  suddenly  the  inventor 
drew  upon  the  handle,  and  the  interior  of  the  safe  was 
exposed  to  view. 

"  That's  a  big  thing,"  observed  Frank,  delighted. 
"  How'd  you  do  it,  Ely  ?  " 

"  That  is  my  patent,  my  dear  fellow  ! " 

"  But  it  appears  a  very  simple  thing  to  do,  though." 

"  So  it  is  — when  you  know  how  it  is  done,  Frank." 

And  with  these  words,  Ely  closed  the  safe-door  again. 

"  Now,  Frank,  I  have  shown  you  how  to  do  it.  You 
have  seen  how  I  did  it,  and  you  mustn't  expose  my  secret, 
you  know.  There!  Open  it,  now,  please?" 

Frank  turned  the  knob  again  —  pulled  it  forward  with 
all  his  strength,  turned  it  'back,  twisted  it,  and  tugged  at 
it  fiercely,  —  but  made  no  headway.  And  he  gave  it  up. 


124        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

4 '  It  is  very  simple,"  said  Ely,  ironically.  "  Why  don't 
you  open  it,  my  dear  boy  2  " 

"  Ah,  I  am  not  a  professional  burglar,  Ely.  I  make  no 
pretensions  to  skill  as  an  expert  in  this  kind  of  operation." 

"  Of  course  not.  But  anybody  can  manage  it,  as  soon 
as  he  knows  how,  I  tell  you.  A  child  could  open  it,  with 
the  true  key  to  the  lock." 

"  Sleight  o'  hand  —  eh  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no.  Simplicity  itself.  In  this  consists  its  beauty, 
as  well  as  its  utility." 

"  It  could  be  blown  open,  with  gunpowder,  though  ?  " 
suggested  Meyers. 

"  Could  it  ?  Here  is  half  a  pound  o'  powder,  my  boy. 
This  very  objection  to  its  probable  security  against  a  des 
perate  thief,  has  been  suggested  before.  Let's  see  you 
4  blow  '  it  open." 

"  I  shall  destroy  your  machine,  Ely." 

44  That's  exactly  what  I  would  like  you  —  or  any  other 
man,  thus  inclined  —  to  do  !  What  is  a  safe-lock  good  for, 
my  dear  fellow,  if  it  can  be  blown  open  with  a  charge  of 
powder,  pray  ?  Go  ahead,  now." 

44  Give  me  a  match,  then." 

*4  Here  is  something  better,  Frank.  The  finest  effective 
wire-fuse  manufactured.  Now  ! " 

Meyers  went  to  work,  with  a  will  —  and  said  he  could 
do  it.  But,  in  spite  of  his  earnest  efforts,  there  was  neith 
er  seam,  cavity,  hole,  opening,  or  vacuum  visible  —  into 
which  he  could  force  the  point  of  a  fine  cambric  needle  ! 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  125 

The  smallest  grain  of  powder  could  not  be  pricked  in, 
around,  above,  below,  or  beside  the  lock. 

"  If  you  will  observe,"  continued  Ely,  "  this  arrange 
ment  is  but  the  outside  of  the  inside.  Within  this  casing, 
the  principle  is  duplicated.  Thus  the  lock,  and  safeguard 
is  double.  The  cases  are  to  be  of  steel  plate,  and  only  by 
cutting  through  the  sides  of  the  safe,  could  powder  be 
introduced.  This  would  blow  open  a  safe,  I  understand  ; 
but  it  would  not  affect  the  security  of  the  lock  —  while 
such  a  process  requires  time,  and  is  attended  with  a  deal 
of  noise,  in  exploding,  you  know.'* 

"T  see  —  yes." 

"  Now  !  How  will  you  blow  out  that  lock,  Frank  ?  " 
demanded  Ely,  triumphantly.  "  How  will  you  insert  any 
powder  ?  " 

4 '  It  is  well  named,  my  boy.  It  is  impossible  to  penetrate 
it,"  rejoined  Meyers. 

"  Of  course  it  is.  Otherwise,  it  would  in  this  respect 
be  a  failure." 

"  Well,  it  is  a  good  thing,  Ely." 

"  I  know  it,  Frank.  I  always  told  you  I  had  it  here,  my 
boy,"  continued  Ely,  tapping  his  forehead,  in  the  old  way. 

"•  Now  what  do  you  say  to  my  '  Patent  Impenetrable 
Bank  Safe  Lock,'  Frank?" 

"  You've  got  a  fortune  in  it,  Hawes  —  as  sure  as  we  are 
here,  to-day,"  returned  Meyers. 

"Now,  then.  The  tumblers  of  this  lock  are  self-acting, 
or  independent  of  the  levers — and  the  barrel  or  cylinder 
supports  the  rotary  motion,"  began  Ely. 


126  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Well,  all  that  is  Greek  to  me,  Ely.  I  don't  know  a 
lock-tumbler  from  a  segment  of  a  stove-pipe,  you  see,"  re 
sponded  Frank.  "  I  can  tell  you  how  many  threads  a  yard- 
wide  Manchester  print  of  ordinary  weight  requires,  to  make 
it  presentable,  or  how  many  go  to  fill  a  three-quarters 
width  Lawrence  Mills  cambric  —  of  any  given  fineness. 
But  these  mechanical  technicalities  of  yours  would  simply 
make  me  sick  at  the  stomach.  You've  got  a  good  thing 
here.  That  I  can  see  —  provided  it  be  original  in 
design." 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  any  thing  like  it  ?  " 

"  No— I  haven't,  Ely." 

"  Nor  I.  It  is  novel,  practical,  ingenious,  and  impene 
trable,  my  boy." 

"  And  you  have  got  your  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  it 
then,  as  you  say  —  in  time,  Ely." 

"  I  hope  so,  Frank." 

"  Come  to  New  York  with  it ;  and  I  will  aid  you  to  put 
it  in  the  market,"  insisted  Meyers. 

"Perhaps  I  may  do  so,"  returned  Ely  at  last  —  as  the 
two  friends  finally  separated. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HOW  FRANK  MEYERS  MADE,  AND  LENT  IT. 

FRANK  MEYERS  went  back  to  New  York  city,  deeply 
impressed  with  the  conviction  that  plain  plodding  quiet 
Ely  Hawes  was  a  genius. 

"  That  boy  is  a  trump,"  said  Frank.  "  He  has  been 
delving,  and  studying,  and  struggling  with  that  invention 
of  his,  for  years  and  years  ;  working  from  hand  to  mouth 
as  he  went  —  pinching  himself  for  the  comforts  of  life  — 
and  persevering  in  his  chosen  purpose,  with  wonderful 
tenacity  —  until  he's  got  it,  now,  as  I'm  a  sinner  !  " 

"  How-  true  it  is,"  he  continued,  mentally,  "that  the 
great  inventor  after  all  is  he  who  has  walked  forth  upon 
the  industrial  world  —  not  from  the  college,  but  from  the 
hovel,  comparatively.  Not  clothed  in  fine  broadcloth  and 
decorated  with  honors,  but  clad  in  homespun  or  fustian, 
and  grimed  with  soot,  dust,  and  oil. 

"  Here  is  a  poor  unknown  young  man,  that  seven  out 
of  ten  who  have  watched  his  course,  hitherto,  would  set 
down  as  being  a  very  fanatic,  or  a  hair-brained  idiot,  at 

127 


128  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

the  least.  But,  during  all  these  days,  he  has  been  simpl}* 
laying  up  material  in  his  busy  brain.  And  now  he  has 
worked  out  this  "  patent  lock  "  problem,  that  will  prove 
the  means,  unquestionably,  to  lead  him  on  to  a  fortune 
such  as  may  hardly  be  calculated  to-day,  in  magnitude. 
Bravo,  good  honest  Ely  Hawes  I  You  shall  not  want  for 
the  means  to  prosecute  your  scheme  to  eventual  success,  if 
the  paltry  sum  of  a  thousand  dollars  only  is  required  to 
push  it  to  a  climax." 

Frank  had  his  own  little  plan  in  his  head,  already,  for 
Ely's  relief.  He  would  liked  to  have  had  his  old  friend 
with  him  in  New  York,  where  he  could  advise  and  consult 
with  him.  But  upon  his  arrival  there,  he  determined  to 
write  to  Ely,  and  place  the  sum  he  needed  to  get  his 
patent  out,  at  once  at  his  disposal. 

Within  a  month  from  the  time  they  parted,  (after 
Meyers  had  seen  the  new  invention,)  Ely  was  taken  quite 
aback,  one  morning,  to  receive  by  mail  from  New  York  a 
mysterious  looking  envelope  thus  addressed  :  — 


tto       Lawe6,    Oda. 


He  opened  this  missive  with  a  nervous  hand,  and  read 
the  following  lines,  after  noting  its  bright  clean  enclosure  : 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  129 

"•  Ely,  my  Dear  Boy  —  Enclosed  find  draft  on  Merchant's  Bank^ 
Boston,  for  One  Thousand  Dollars.  I  want  you  to  use  it  forthwith, 
towards  the  prosecution  of  your  patent  matter.  I  know  you  didn't 
ask  for  it,  mind.  That  is  my  affair.  I've  got  it,  you  need  it ;  and  it 
will  come  round  all  right.  Take  it  —  and  if  you  want  another  thou 
sand, -say  so.  I've  got  that,  too  —  and  it  is  at  your  service,  any  day. 
If  you  can  repay  it,  all  right.  If  not  —  ditto.  Don't  be  afraid  of  it. 
When  you  get  your  'hundred  thousand,'  you  know,  you  can  return  it. 
And  I  shall  be  the  happiest  fellow  alive  to  remember  that  it  was  in 
my  power  to  aid  you.  What  are  friends  good  for,  Ely,  if  you  can't 
use  them,  in  need?  Go  ahead  with  your  new  lock,  now.  I  tell  you 
you've  got  a  big  thing.  And  believe  me  always  —  money,  or  no 
money  —  Yours  truly,  FRANK  MEYERS." 

Ely  Hawes  was  not  given  to  the  melting  mood,  very 
often.  But  upon  finishing  this  generously  worded  epistle, 
and  glancing  again  at  the  munificent  draft  before  him, 
tears  of  profound  gratitude  rolled  down  his  cheeks,  and  he 
thought  he  never  before  knew  what  true  friendship  was. 

"  Ah,  my  dear  Frank,"  he  murmured  to  himself,  "  you 
can  never  know  how  I  appreciate  this  timely  favor, 
indeed !  " 

Ely  immediately  replied  to  his  friend's  letter,  thanked 
him  in  downright  good  earnest,  expressed  his  utter  sur 
prise  at  this  generously  conceived  act,  and  sent  him  his 
note  on  demand  for  the  thousand  dollars,  with  interest ; 
to  be  retained  by  Meyers,  as  the  sole  condition  of  his 
acceptance  of  this  favor. 

Then  he  resolved  to  proceed  at  once  to  Washington,  in 
person,  to  obtain  his  Letters  Patent  for  the  lock ;  and 


130  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

then  he  would  begin  to  count  upon  his  future  fortune,  he 
thought. 

Frank  Meyers  had  been  doing  this  same  kind  of  thing 
(in  a  smaller  way,)  all  his  life.  He  had  rarely  lost  money 
by  this  usage  —  strange  to  say.  But  whenever  he  had 
cash  in  hand,  he  was  noted  for  his  willingness  to  help 
those  of  his  friends  who  happened  to  be  '  short.' 

In  this  way,  and  through  this  careless  means,  he  did 
many  real  favors.  But  this  chronic  affection  in  his  con 
stitutional  make-up,  while  in  spirit  one  of  the  best,  was 
the  worst  feature  in  his  composition,  in  a  business  view. 
He  was  always  happy  in  being  able  to  say  4  yes  '  —  and 
he  never  could  bring  his  lips  to  utter  4  no,'  if  he  had  the 
means  in  his  possession  through  which  another  could  be 
aided,  or  relieved,  pecuniarily. 

Thus  Frank  lacked  the  money-making  balance-wheel 
alluded  to  in  his  case.  And  thus  he  did  not  nourish,  as 
he  ought  to  have  done,  with  his  generous  income  ;  which 
might  have  been  saved,  to  his  own  credit,  betimes. 

Contingent  upon  this  weakness  in  Frank's  character, 
was  his  strange  credulousness.  He  was  fain  to  believe  all 
men  honest  and  truthful,  because  he  had  been  so  himself, 
from  boyhood.  And  before  he  had  been  a  resident  in 
New  York  city  two  years,  there  were  those  who  had 
measured  him,  and  found  him  easily  induced  to  enter  into 
their  little  schemes,  where  ready  cash  was  needed  to  help 
along  their  ventures. 

Still,  Frank  Meyers  was  no  man's  fool.     He    was  lib- 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  131 

eral,  and  careless  in  the  use  of  his  money  perhaps,  at 
times ;  but  he  was  nevertheless  keen  in  his  perceptions, 
and  knew  a  hawk  from  a  handsaw,  every  time. 

He  had  learned  to  demand  security  upon  his  open 
business  loans.  If  he  lent  an  acquaintance  or  a  compan 
ion  a  hundred  dollars,  to  accommodate  him  temporarily, 
he  did  it  in  the  way  of  friendship.  "  If  it  comes  back," 
he  would  say,  "  all  right.  I  have  not  injured  myself,  and 
I  have  helped  a  poor  fellow  in  need.  If  I  lose  it,  alto 
gether  —  the  loss  is  mine,  in  purse  —  but  I  have  the  sat 
isfaction  of  knowing  I  have  performed  a  good  act, 
unselfishly,  and  that  is  sufficient,  for  this  occasion." 

In  course  of  time,  as  is  not  an  unusual  thing,  there, 
the  New  York  sharpers  got  hold  of  simple-hearted  Frank 
Meyers,  from  Boston. 

After  three  or  four  years'  service  in  the  great  house  he 
purchased  cotton  goods  for,  at  so  generous  a  salary,  it 
became  known,  through  his  small  brokers  in  Wall  Street, 
that  this  young  man  had  money  '  lying  around  loose.' 

Frank  accumulated  —  notwithstanding  his  easy  way  of 
doing  business  for  himself  —  in  about  four  years,  some 
fourteen  thousand  dollars,  in  cash.  He  was  going  along, 
swimmingly. 

He  had  loaned  and  re-loaned  this  money,  from  year  to 
year,  and  it  had  paid  him  handsomely,  at  a  fair  current 
rate  of  interest  for  his  style  of  accommodation.  He  had 
never  speculated.  This  was  not  his  forte.  But  he  was 
desirous  to  make  money.  And  he  accomplished  this. 


132  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

He  kept  steadily  at  work,  however,  and  as  fast  as  his 
means  increased,  he  made  new  loans,  and  added  rightfully 
to  his  gains. 

At  the  beginning  of  his  fifth  year,  his  salary  was  again 
advanced  —  for  he  proved  himself  immensely  valuable  to 
the  cotton-buying  house.  And  no  man's  judgment 
excelled  that  of  active,  shrewd,  well  educated  Frank 
Meyers. 

And  so  —  with  fourteen  thousand  dollars  at  good 
interest,  at  the  beginning  of  his  fifth  year  in  New  York, 
and  a  prospective  salary  thereafter  of  eight  thousand  dol 
lars  per  annum,  Frank  felt  quite  at  his  ease,  and  hopeful 
as  to  his  future. 

Thus  he  quietly  argued  his  case. 

"  My  invested  funds  already  bring  me  in  over  a  thou 
sand  a  year,  at  this  time.  I  can  live  as  I  wish  to,  upon 
that  sum.  Eight  thousand  —  from  my  future  salary,  then 
—  is  so  much  clear  gain.  Eight  thousand  per  annum  in 
principal,  amounts  in  five  years  to  forty  thousand  dollars. 
I  will  invest  this,  quarterly;  two  thousand  dollars  re 
placed,  every  three  months,  will  give  me  returns  equal  to 
eight  thousand  more  yearly,  to  be  put  at  interest,  after  the 
first  quarter.  This  sum,  annually  added  to  the  other,  will 
in  five  years  give  me  an  invested  capital  of  nearly  sixty 
thousand  dollars  —  at  ordinary  rates,  upon  good  security. 
At  better  interest,  more.  The  accumulations  upon  this 
forty  thousand  hereafter,  in  five  years  should  reach  at 
least  eight  thousand  more.  My  hoped-for  hundred  thou- 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  133 

sand  dollars  is  not  so  far  off  in  the  distance  —  after  all. 
In  ten  years  from  the  day  I  left  old  Massachusetts,  I  shall 
have  earned  it.  Then  I  will  go  back  there,  and  end  my 
days  in  the  enjoyment  of  my  otium  cum  dignitate,  if  I  live. 
And  if  I  die  —  I  shall  not  want  it." 

Thus  sanguine  Frank  Meyers  built  his  airy  castle,  and 
hopefully  looked  forward  to  the  easy  accomplishment  of 
his  purpose,  within  the  next  succeeding  half  a  dozen 
years.  And  not  without  fair  promise,  from  the  outlook. 

Frank  had  begun  right.  If  he  had  gone  on  as  he  thus 
laid  out  his  future  plans  in  his  fancy,  all  would  have  been 
well.  And  he  would  and  could  have  been  the  master  of 
his  coveted  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  ten  years  from 
the  beginning,  as  he  had  calculated. 

But,  as  we  have  hinted,  Mr.  Frank  Meyers  of  Boston 
fell  among  the  Philistines  of  Wall  Street,  unexpectedly ; 
that  horde  of  cormorants,  who  like  the  warrior-steeds  so 
readily  "  snuff  the  scent  of  the  battle  from  afar,"  and  who, 
once  upon  the  trail,  pursue  their  intended  victim  to  the 
death,  unless  he  chance  to  pro~e  the  longest-winded  and 
the  swiftest-footed  in  the  chase  ! 

Before  the  fifth  year  expired,  Frank  had  twenty  thou 
sand  dollars  in  the  hands  of  his  Wall  Street  brokers.  And 
they  had  induced  him,  through  flaring  promises  of  brilliant 
success,  to  join  them  in  a  bout  at  stock  speculation. 

In  this  sort  of  enterprise,  our  ambitious  young  friend 
had  never  had  the  slightest  experience.  His  money  had 
hitherto  been  mostly  loaned  upon  legitimate  risks,  accom 


134  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

panied  with  sound  collaterals;  and  he  had  received  but 
fair  current  returns,  in  the  way  of  interest,  with  which  he 
was  satisfied. 

But  through  the  importunities  of  those  who  had  served 
him  at  first  to  place  these  loans  for  three  years  and  more, 
and  the  promise  held  out  by  them  of  a  rapid  increase  in 
his  gains,  he  assented  to  their  proposals.  And  so  placed 
within  their  control  the  twenty  thousand  dollars  he  had 
earned  and  saved,  to  "  operate  "  with,  for  their  joint  profit. 

At  that  early  period  —  then  1843  or  '4  —  the  palmy 
days  of  the  Wall  Street  Stock  Exchange  had  not  come  to 
be  known,  as  in  the  later  time.  Still,  millions  in  "  transac 
tions  "  occurred  there  every  day,  among  the  great  or  lesser 
commission  brokers,  who  bandied  the  funds  of  their  over- 
reliant  patrons  about,  who  furnished  the  cash  means  by 
way  of  4  margins,'  or  otherwise,  for  the  bulls  and  bears  to 
gamble  with. 

It  was  in  this  identical  institution  (then  in  its  first 
stages  of  development,)  where,  but  a  few  years  later,  the 
4  Napoleon '  of  Wall  Street,  Jacob  Little,  made  and  lost 
nine  splendid  fortunes,  successively,  in  half  that  number 
of  years.  It  was  under  the  rule  of  this  same  management 
afterwards,  that  the  Mac  Vicker,  the  Jerome,  the  Drew, 
and  the  Travers  slaughtered  their  scores  and  hundreds  of 
innocent  victims,  without  mercy  or  compunction ! 

And  this  was  the  bustling  arena  which  the  poor  clerk 
Anthon  Morse  entered,  at  that  same  period — with  his 
seven  hundred  dollars,  only, -in  cash  that  he  had  earned 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  135 

and  saved  from  his  salary ;  and  who  for  a  few  brief 
months,  (in  combination  with  Little  and  another  Wall 
Street  king,)  cut  such  a  dashing  figure  and  so  startled  the 
money-broker-world,  with  his  monstrous  daring  and 
prowess. 

The  curious  rocket-like  career  of  this  youth  was  the 
most  extraordinary  upon  the  American  financial  record,  in 
its  mutability  —  and  folly.' 

Anthon  Morse  was  known  only  as  a  sharp  accountant, 
who  possessed  the  faculty  of  being  able  to  add  up  at  sight, 
correctly,  four  columns  of  figures  at  the  same  time,  and  as 
promptly  as  his  compeers  could  add  but  one. 

He  went  into  Wall  Street  bent  upon  making  a  sudden 
fortune.  He  had  just  seven  hundred  dollars  to  his  name  ; 
but  he  carried  with  him  into  the  ring  a  clear  head,  a  subtle 
will,  a  heart  of  courage,  and  a  firm  resolve  to  win.  When 
he  retired,  he  took  away  with  him  neither  money  nor 

• 

brains,  unfortunately ! 

Upon  this  paltry  capital  of  less  than  one  thousand 
dollars,  Morse  operated  so  skilfully  that  within  six  weeks 
he  had  in  hand  in  gold  upwards  of  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars  —  which,  he  had  made  in  stock  speculation. 

Did  he  keep  it  ? 

Yes  —  for  the  hour.  And  then  he  launched  out,  with 
frightful  strides  —  and  gained,  enormously,  upon  this  sum. 
In  six  months  thereafter,  he  was  the  heaviest  stock  operat 
or  in  Wall  Street,  beyond  comparison.  He  bought  and 
sold  and  gambled  for  millions. 


136  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

The  old  heads  stared,  the  younger  men  were  as 
tounded.  Jacob  Little  himself  was  '  nowhere,'  beside  this 
bold  young  adventurer.  And  ere  eight  months  had  gone 
by,  Morse  had  in  hand  seven  millions  of  dollars  in  cash, 
stocks,  and  bonds  ! 

Did  he  save  this  colossal  fortune  ?  Did  he  retire  in 
season  to  enjoy  this  huge  wealth,  that  had  been  literally 
poured  into  his  lap,  by  the  million  ?  Was  he  really  the 
shrewd,  keen,  able  business  man  that  everybody  believed 
him  to  be  ? 

No !  There  are  certain  people  in  this  nether  world 
fated  to  be  fools.  And  he  was  one  of  these. 

Before  that  year  had  closed,  Morse  had  lost  every  dollar 
of  his  seven  millions,  and  became  a  hopeless,  helpless 
bankrupt.  Within  twelve  months  from  the  day  he  ven 
tured  into  Wall  Street,  with  his  seven  hundred  hard- 
earned  dollars,  he  went  out  again,  seven  hundred  thousand 
dollars  worse  than  nothing  ! 

Frank  Meyers  had  not  then  this  example  before  him,  or 
it  might  have  proved  a  wholesome  lesson  to  the  ambitious 
dry-goods  salesman.  But  this  was  an  actual  occurrence, 
which  took  place  within  the  New  York  ring  in  Wall 
Street,  but  a  few  years  after  he  tried  this  mode  to  acquire 
fortune  unwittingly,  through  similar  means. 

We  have  thus  shown,  in  this  chapter,  how  Meyers 
"  made  and  lent  his  money." 

In  the  next,  we  will  inform  the  reader  how  he  succeeded 
in  his  subsequent  plan  ;  and  how  this  }7oung  man  improved 
the  teachings  he  acquired  in  his  experience. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FRANK  LEARNS  HOW  NOT  TO  LOSE  IT. 

IT  was  John  Randolph,  I  think,  who  startled  the  House 
of  Representatives  one  day  in  Congress,  when  he  broke 
out  with  this  text  for  his  intended  subsequent  speech,  on 
the  Treasury  appropriations  bill  ;  —  "  Mr.  Speaker,  I 
have  found  the  philosopher's  stone  !  Pay  as  you  go"  — 
added  John.  And  then  he  halted  to  take  breath. 

Another  recommendation  as  good  as  this,  was  the 
advice  of  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  to  a  cloud  of  sufferers 
who  gathered  around  him  after  the  explosion,  but  who 
went  in  to  win  against  him  and  Jay  Gould,  last  year. 

They  had  slipped  up,  with  a  heap  of  heavily  depreci 
ated  stocks  on  their  hands :  "  Never  attempt  to  get  rich, 
gentlemen,  in  a  hurry.  Take  your  time.  If  you  had 
bought  a  hundred  instead  of  a  thousand  shares,  for  a  rise 
—  you  might  have  held  on,"  said  Vanderbilt,  with  a 
chuckle.  The  sly  old  fox  had  "  unloaded  "  at  high  tide, 
himself ! 

Frank  Meyers'  twenty  thousand  dollars  were  in  his 
brokers'  hands,  and  they  went  into  the  market,  'flush.' 

137 


138  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

A  great  deal  can  be  accomplished  with  twenty  thousand 
dollars  in  cash,  in  buying  and  selling  stocks  upon  the 
depositor's  "  margin." 

The  broker  takes  no  risk,  individually,  in  this  game. 
He  buys,  or  sells  ;  and,  as  stocks  go  up  or  down,  he  takes 
his  profits  for  his  patron,  or  (out  of  his  deposits)  pays 
the  losses  that  accrue  upon  the  several  operations,  so 
long  as  the  depositor's  margin  holds  out. 

Some  men  are  constant  gainers,  in  this  traffic ;  but  the 
mass,  and  the  lesser  capitalists  especially,  are  the  aggregate 
losers.  A  "  corner "  brought  about  by  a  Vanderbilt,  a 
Drew,  a  Gould,  or  a  Little,  in  any  chosen  fancy  security, 
swamps  all  the  small  fry  who  are  caught  in  this  net. 

And  notwithstanding  the  oft-repeated  warnings  that 
are  given,  the  victims  still  "  go  in,"  and  are  crippled  or 
cleaned  out  by  the  more  adroit  heavy  managers. 

Meyers  knew  nothing  of  the  modus  operandi  through 
which  these  affairs  were  manoeuvred.  He  trusted  his 
funds  reliantly  to  his  agents  in  Wall  Street,  and  attended 
to  his  legitimate  business,  himself,  with  which  he  was 
thoroughly  acquainted. 

If  his  twenty  thousand  dollars  could  be  manipulated 
to  his  better  advantage,  through  the  means  proposed,  he 
was  inclined  to  accept  the  increased  profit,  and  pay  the 
brokers'  commissions  for  doing  the  business  and  reP.eving 
him  of  responsibility  beyond  the  sum  he  thus  —  at  u  ven 
ture —  intrusted  to  their  .management,  for  the  time  being. 
But  "I  will  pay  as  I  go,"  he  said,  "  and  there  will  ke  no 
afterclap,  whatever  results." 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  139 

The  brokers  bought  "  for  a  rise  "  —  or  said  they  did  — 
and  this  was  equivalent  to  the  act ;  for  no  human  being 
outside  of  the  said  operators'  confidence,  can  successfully 
dispute  this  kind  of  statement  on  the  part  of  your  com 
missioned  stock-broker. 

They  unfortunately  purchased  heavily  at  the  top  of  the 
market,  however  —  possibly  hoping  that  the  stock  they 
invested  in  on  this  particular  occasion  would  still  go  up. 
But  it  tumbled,  on  their  hands,  instead. 

Next  day  it  took  another  lurch,  downward.  A  week 
afterwards,  this  first  heavy  purchase  had  depreciated  six 
dollars  and  a  half  on  the  share  —  "with  a  downward 
tendency,"  at  closing  quotations,  that  day. 

And  they  had  bought  a  thousand  shares  of  this  stock, 
for  account  of  the  confident  and  pliable  Frank  Meyers, 
Esquire ! 

They  trembled  —  but  waited. 

This  had  been  hitherto  a  favorite  in  the  market,  and  it 
would  rally,  undoubtedly  —  so  they  thought. 

But  it  didn't. 

After  holding  it  ten  days,  they  concluded  to  report 
progress,  and  see  what  Frank  might  propose,  under  these 
adverse  circumstances. 

"  What  did  you  say  you  purchased  this  stock  at  ?  " 
queried  Meyers,  with  some  concern  in  his  expression. 

"  Seventy-nine,"  replied  his  agents. 

"  What  is  it  worth  ?  " 

"  It  has  touched  eighty -six  within  thirty  days,  but  fell. 


140  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

And  we  stepped  in  at  what  we  considered  a  safe  figure, 
for  a  thousand  shares,  79 —  "  said  his  brokers. 

"And  now?" 

"  It  is  heavy  at  seventy-three." 

"  How  much  shrinkage  is  that,  in  ten  days,  gentle 
men  ?  " 

"  Six  dollars  and  over,  per  share." 

"  Over  six  thousand  dollars  of  my  '  margin  '  gone  up, 
then  ?  " 

"  Down,  if  you  please,  sir." 

"  Yes.  It  has  stepped  down  —  and  out  —  eh  ?  " 
remarked  Meyers,  facetiously. 

"  Exactly." 

"  What  is  the  prospect  ?  " 

"  No  one  can  say.     We  thought  it  would  advance." 

"It  is  not  certain  that  it  will  remain  steady  even  at 
73,  I  presume  ?  " 

"No.     But  —  " 

"  Sell  it,"  said  Frank,  promptly. 

"To-day?" 

"  At  once.  I  had  rather  submit  to  a  loss  of  six  thou 
sand  five  hundred  dollars,  than  seven  thousand  five  hun 
dred.  And  do  me  the  favor  not  to  put  all  my  eggs  into 
one  basket  at  a  time,  in  the  future,  if  you  please,  gentle 
men.  Good  morning,"  said  Frank,  retiring. 

This  was  short,  but  sweet. 

"  I  don't  know  much  about  this  kind  of  thing,"  muttered 
Frank  to  himself,  as  he  mused  bver  this  unanticipated 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  141 

stroke,  on  his  way  back  to  his  store,  "  but  I  think  this,  in 
money-making  routine,  is  a  very  good  way  not  to  do  it. 

"  Over  six  thousand  dollars  swamped,  in  ten  days !  One 
more  such  operation  will  break  my  financial  back.  And 
two  speculations  further,  in  this  direction,  will  absorb 
every  dollar  of  surplus  funds  I  am  master  of. 

"  I  was  drawn  into  this.  It  is  not  my  own  choice  of 
methods  towards  money-making.  I  know  nothing  about 
this  contrivance.  It  is  called  4  respectable,'  however.  It 
certainly  is  not  profitable  —  so  far  —  to  me." 

Frank  concluded  that  he  would  permit  the  brokers  to  go 
on.  He  was  indisposed  all  at  once  to  4  show  the  white 
feather.'  In  for  a  penny,  in  for  the  pound  —  he  thought. 
We  will  see  how  they  get  on. 

He  still  had  fourteen  thousand  dollars  in  his  brokers' 
hands.  He  was  determined  upon  one  thing:  he  would 
venture  no  more  there. 

"  I  can  stand  the  loss  of  that  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
and  I  will  pay  as  I  go  —  any  how.  I  am  out  of  debt  — 
the  money  is  my  own  —  and  my  salary  is  eight  thousand  a 
year,"  he  said. 

"  If  they  lose  that  sum,  let  it  go.  The  test  will  be 
costly.  But  dear-bought  experience,  they  say,  is  often  the 
best  we  can  procure. 

"  This  will  be  dear  enough  to  me,  though  —  by  the 
mass !  "  he  continued.  "  Twenty  thousand  dollars.  All 
I  have  earned  in  five  years,  and  saved.  A  full  fifth  of  the 
*  great  expectations '  I  promised  myself,  a  fortnight  ago  — 


142  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

at  the  end  of  another  five  years,  if  I  should  live  so 
long !  " 

He  became  anxious,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life. 

Three  days  afterwards,  he  called  on  his  brokers  again. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  quietly,  upon  entering  their  busy 
office.  "  How  is  the  stock  market  ?  " 

"  Feverish,  sir." 

"  Are  you  doing  any  thing  ?  " 

"  For  you  ?  Yes.  We  bought  two  hundred  shares  day 
before  yesterday  for  your  account,  and  two  hundred 
to-day  of  another.  Both  are  rising." 

"  How  much,  so  far  ?  " 

"  Yesterday's  purchase  has  advanced  three  dollars  on  a 
share,  sir." 

"  Sell  it,"  said  Frank. 

"  To-day  ?  " 

"  At  once.  A  nimble  sixpence  you  know  is  better  than 
the  slow  shilling." 

They  sold  it  within  the  hour,  at  three  dollars  and  a  half 
advance.  The  other  two  hundred  shares  were  sold  within 
the  week  at  five  dollars  per  share  advance.  This  gave  Mr. 
Meyers  nearly  two  thousand  dollars  profit ;  and  swelled 
his  deposit  to  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  in  his  brokers' 
hands. 

They  bought  for  Meyers  five  hundred  shares  of  another 
kind,  at  forty-one  dollars  —  which  went  up  slowly,  in  two 
waeks,  to  43J-. 

"  Sell,"  insisted  Meyers. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  143 

This  gave  him  twelve  hundred  dollars  more  increase. 
And  then  he  requested  a  statement  of  account,  which  was 
furnished  him. 

The  balance  to  his  credit  was  a  trifle  rising  seventeen 
thousand  dollars  —  over  and  above  commissions,  and 
charges. 

"  Your  check,  gentlemen,  if  you  please,  for  this  ?  "  said 
Meyers,  civilly. 

They  looked  at  their  patron  —  smiled  —  and  filled  an 
order  upon  their  bankers  for  the  amount,  without  demur. 

"  No  more  for  me,"  observed  Frank,  placidly.  "  I  have 
seen  this  elephant !  Three  thousand  dollars  sunk,  in  six 
weeks.  No  more  for  me.  I  am  cured.  Good  day,  gentle 
men." 

Thus  Mr.  Frank  Meyers  ascertained  how  not  to  lose  his 
money,  for  the  future.  It  had  cost  him  only  three  thou 
sand  dollars  to  learn  this  lesson  —  as  it  happened  —  and  he 
thought  he  had  escaped  at  a  moderate  figure. 

So  he  had.  It  might  have  been  seven  times  three  thou 
sand,  or  thereabouts,  had  he  been  the  simpleton  his  brokers 
fancied  him  to  be. 

He  took  his  seventeen  thousand  straight  to  his  employers' 
bank,  where  he  deposited  it  with  about  a  thousand  already 
there  to  his  credit. 

At  the  end  of  the  next  quarter,  he  added  the  two 
thousand  received  for  his  salary  to  the  rest,  and  thus 
found  himself  the  clear  owner  of  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
once  more. 


144        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Within  a  month  he  took  a  bottom  mortgage  upon  a 
handsome  brick  block  of  four  residences  in  twenty-fourth 
Street,  New  York  —  at  six  per  cent  interest,  with  this 
money. 

He  did  not  disturb  that  investment.  And,  five  years 
subsequently,  the  property  fell  into  his  hands  under  fore 
closure. 

The  four  houses  were  then  worth  forty  thousand  dollars 
—  and  paid  a  ready  rental  of  more  than  six  per  cent  upon 
this  value. 

Frank  Meyers  never  put  a  dollar  into  any  species  of 
speculation  from  the  time  he  so  narrowly  escaped,  on  the 
occasion  referred  to.  And,  in  the  future,  he  went  steadily 
forward  in  his  career,  as  we  shall  learn,  by  and  by. 

Meantime,  Ely  had  gone  to  Washington  in  pursuit  of 
his  papers  securing  him  the  Patent ;  for  which  he  had 
long  since  filed  his  caveat,  for  early  protection. 

And  we  will  leave  Frank  Meyers  now,  for  a  time,  in 
the  enjoyment  of  his  income  —  pursuing  his  routine-duty 
as  cotton-goods  buyer  for  the  New  York  house  —  while 
we  learn  how  Ely  Hawes  the  diligent  mechanic  got  along 
with  his  admirable  invention  of  the  Bank-safe  Lock. 


CHAPTER  X. 

HOW  BRAVE  ELY   HAWES   FLOURISHED. 

As  soon  after  he  found  himself  in  possession  of  the 
thousand  dollars  which  Frank  Meyers  had  so  kindly  loaned 
him,  as  he  could  conveniently  leave  home,  Ely  Hawes 
turned  his  face  towards  Washington. 

He  had  never  yet  seen  the  National  Capitol,  and  had 
no  clear  idea  what  he  was  to  do  there,  or  what  complica 
tions  he  would  be  called  on  to  encounter  in  that  city  of 
politicians,  strangers,  charlatans,  and  humbugs. 

He  entertained  a  vague  notion  that  the  city  of  Wash 
ington  was  a  kind  of  consecrated  place  —  isolated  from 
the  outside  world  —  and  hemmed  around  with  monumen 
tal  memories,  and  the  solemnest  associations  of  the  early 
days  of  our  great  and  glorious  American  republic. 

He  procured  a  comely  new  suit  of  attire,  and  placing 
his  safe-lock  model  in  a  neat  black  satchel  which  he  sus 
pended  at  his  side,  with  hopeful  animation  Ely  started  for 
the  Capitol,  to  procure  Letters  Patent  for  the  pet  inven 
tion  upon  which  he  had  spent  years  of  study,  and  which 
he  now  believed  to  be  perfected,  at  last. 

146 


146 


A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


When  he  arrived  there,  the  romance  was  very  swiftly 
taken  out  of  him.  He  found  the  national  capital  —  in 
the  John  Tyler  administration  —  a  conglomeration  of  red 
mud,  unpaved  streets,  seedy  negroes,  decayed  old  build- 


ELY  HAWES  STARTS  FOR  WASHINGTON. 


ings,  indifferent  public  houses,  idle  bummers,  villanous 
hacks,  and  general  discomfort;  where  the  charges  for 
entertainment  were  exorbitant,  the  food  second-rate,  the 
water  sickening,  the  air  malarious,  the  foul  canal  (or 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  147 

river)  putrid,  and  the  weather  '  hotter  than  Tophet,'  to 
repeat  his  own  inild  way  of  putting  it.  But  this  was 
over  thirty  years  ago.  And  Washington  is  changed,  since 
then  —  somewhat ! 

One  of  the  first  individuals  Ely  met  in  Washington  was 
a  wandering  native  of  that  metropolis,  whom  he  encoun 
tered  not  far  from  the  Dep6t  where  he  landed  —  a  Mr. 
Scrane. 

This  young  man  stood  at  the  street  corner,  smoking,  as 
Ely  came  along.  Being  a  stranger  at  the  capitol,  the 
latter  inquired  the  way  to  the  Washington  House,  where 
he  desired  to  halt. 

Mr.  Scrane  was  very  civil.  He  was  puffing  away  inor 
dinately  at  a  long  cheap  cigar.  Near  by  him,  sat  a  ham 
mer-headed  dingy  gray  dog,  with  a  large  black  patch 
around  his  right  eye.  Hawes  noticed  this  brute,  but  did 
not  take  a  serious  fancy  to  him.  He  was  an  ugly  looking 
customer,  and  his  master  was  not  much  more  agreeable  to 
look  at. 

This  lively  pair  were  waiting  for  "  something  to  turn 
up,"  evidently.  Ely  shied  the  bull-dog,  but  civilly 
inquired  the  direction  to  the  hotel  he  sought.  The  owner 
of  the  beast  said  "  Yer  needn't  be  afeered  o'  the  dorg,  sir. 
He  don't  meddle  wi'  nobuddy  'nless  he's  pick't  on. 
Washint'n  'ouse?  Yas.  I'll  take  yer  bag,  an'  show 
yer,  sir.  It's  a  good  bit  o'  distance  ter  the  Washingt'n 
'ouse.  This  way,  sir." 

The  accommodating  corner-man  took  Ely's  bag,  without 


148  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

further  parley,  and  the  two  men  moved  on  —  the  black- 
eyed  gray  bull-dog  following  his  master's  heels,  closely, 
without  invitation. 

"  'Ee's  a  werry  good  dorg,  that,"  observed  his  owner. 
"  I  calls  him  4  Uncle  Sam,'  fer  short,  sir.  'Ee  won't  worrit 
nobody,  ef  'ee's  lef  alone  —  leastways  ef  'ee  hain't  no- 
think  ag'inst  a  pusson." 

"  He's  a  dreadful  creature  to  look  at,"  suggested  Ely, 
putting  it  gently. 

"  We  thinks  'ee's  a  'ansome  crettir,  sir.  Ther's  on'y 
one  man  'at  that  purp  don't  fancy,  'ere  'n  Wash'ntun. 
That's  Mr.  Topley." 

"Topley?  Who  is  he?"  asked  Hawes,  disposed  to  be 
social  for  the  moment,  though  his  eye  was  frequently 
turned  anxiously  towards  the  dreadful  dog  behind  them. 

44  Mr.  Topley  ?  Wai,  sir,  I  don't  know  edzactly. 
Nobody  don't  know  Mr.  Topley,  I  reck'n.  Ee's  a  gen'le- 
man  as  comes  ter  Wash'ntun,  and  —  an'  goes  away  ag'in. 
That's  about  all  we  knows  o'  Mr.  Topley." 

"  What  does  he  do  ?  " 

"  I  railly  don't  know,  sir." 

"  Is  he  in  the  Department  ?  " 

"  O  yas.  That  is  —  ee's  in,  an'  out,  an'  up  an'  down, 
an'  'round,  gen'ally.  Nowheres  'n  pertic'lar.  They 
calls  'im  '  a  mysteer'ous  man.'  But  the  dorg  don't  like 
'im  —  some'ow,  an'  I  reck'n  'ee  don't  like  the  dorg," 
remarked  Mr.  Scrane,  glancing  down  at  the  beast  with 
the  black  eye  and  elongated  under  jaw.  "But  'ere  we 
are,  sir!" 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


149 


Arriving  at  the  Hotel,  this  man  accepted  half  a  dollar 
for  his  services,  and  Hawes  gladly  got  rid  of  owner  and 
dog,  without  comment,  as  he  entered  and  registered  his 
address  upon  the  hotel  book. 

Among  the  sights  he  saw  in  Washington,  common  at 
that  period,  Ely  was  especially  struck  with  the  represen- 


OUB  "  CULLUD  BROTHER,' 


AND  HIS  "  MASTER,"  IN  1840. 


tative  Southern  colored  man  whom  he  met  there,  at  every 
turn,  as  well  as  his  then  legal  lord  and  "  master ; "  the 
former  poor,  degraded  and  enslaved  by  American  statute, 
but  portly,  talkative,  ill-dressed  and  good-natured  — 
while  the  latter  was  rich  and  well  clad  but  lean,  imperious, 
and  constitutionally  sour  in  aspect,  in  temper  and  inter- 


150  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

course.  But  this  was  anterior  thirty  years  to  "  recon 
struction." 

Ely  had  conceived  an  indistinct  impression  that  he  had 
a  colossal  job  before  him,  to  procure  his  desired  papers  at 
the  Patent  Office.  He  did  not  know  exactly  why. 

Other  inventors  had  taken  pains  to  din  into  his  ears 
the  most  discouraging  suggestions  as  to  his  probable 
future  prospects,  in  this  direction. 

But  he  had  hitherto  charged  all  this  volunteered  advice 
and  disheartening  information  to  jealousy  on  the  part  of 
those  who  offered  it ;  since  he  was  aware  that  most  of  his 
gratuitous  informants  were,  directly  or  indirectly,  com 
petitors  in  his  line  of  invention. 

He  had  a  generously  replenished  purse,  however,  and  a 
good  square  backer,  too,  in  Frank  Meyers  —  should  he 
find  himself  getting  short  of  funds. 

He  did  not  know  what  the  cost  of  his  present  project 
would  be  —  first  and  last  —  but  he  made  up  his  mind  that 
it  would  be  expensive,  as  well  as  troublesome  to  accom 
plish.  And  he  went  to  the  capital  prepared  for  all  contin- 
gences,  as  he  believed,  determined  to  remain  there  until 
his  work  was  consummated. 

On  the  second  morning  after  his  arrival,  he  went  straight 
for  the  Patent  Office,  hopefully. 

He  found  a  large  building,  where  there  were  more 
rooms,  and  apartments,  and  "  departments  "  in  the  pile, 
than  he  had  ever  before  encountered  under  one  roof  in  the 
whole  course  of  his  life.  Big  enough,  he  said,  to  answer 
the  purposes  of  three  huge  hotels. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  151 

And  every  room  was  filled  with  servants,  too  —  clerks, 
waiters,  janitors,  messengers,  by  the  score ;  all  busy  as 
beavers,  apparently,  and  each  devoting  himself  to  his 
work  —  such  as  it  was  —  with  remarkable  outward  show 
of  assiduity. 

So  deeply  engaged  were  those  to  whom  he  at  first 
courteously  introduced  himself  indeed,  that  he  found  it 
quite  impossible  to  get  either  himself  or  his  business  taken 
the  slightest  notice  of ! 

It  was  quite  noon  when  he  first  presented  himself  at 
the  office  where  he  sought  some  initiatory  information  as 
to  how  he  should  proceed,  and  learn  whom  it  was  necessary 
he  should  apply  to,  in  form,  for  particulars  of  the  requisite 
mode  of  procedure  in  his  case. 

A  pot-bellied  man  —  Mr.  Julius  Puffborl  —  who  appeared 
to  be  in  the  last  stages  of  dropsical  inflation,  from  his  ex 
treme  obesity,  informed  the  stranger  in  wheezing  accents 
that  he'd  "  better  try  nummer  vifteen,  on  the  zecond  vloor, 
vust ;  he  could  put  him  on  the  right  drack,"  he  reckoned. 

And  Ely  sought  out  room  fifteen,  upon  the  second  floor, 
accordingly. 

He  knocked  at  the  door  of  this  apartment,  thrice.  But 
no  response  was  accorded  him. 

"  There's  nobody  here,  at  all  events,"  said  Ely,  quietly. 
Then,  opening  the  door  at  a  venture  and  peeping  in,  to 
his  surprise  he  discovered  that  there  were  four  or  five 
able-bodied  individuals  inside ;  all  busy,  like  the  rest  he 
had  seen. 


152  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  They  must  be  hard  o'  hearing,"  concluded  Ely.  "  I 
knocked  three  times." 

Then  he  entered. 

"  If  you  please  sir,  I  wish  to  get  a  Patent,"  began  Ely, 
respectfully  addressing  a  tall  red-haired  man,  perched  in  a 
comfortable  high  chair,  very  busily  absorbed  in  reading  the 
"  Constitution  "  newspaper. 

He  was  so  deeply  engaged  in  this  arduous  morning  work 
that  he  did  not  raise  his  eyes,  even,  at  this  civil  salutation. 

"  If  you  please  —  did  you  hear  me,  sir  ?  "  said  Ely, 
cautiously. 

No  answer. 

"  I  want  to  get  out  a  Patent  —  " 

"  What  are  you  talking  about  ?  "  asked  the  Department 
man,  severely. 

"  I  want  a  Patent,  sir  —  " 

"  Why  don't  you  go  where  they  provide  'em,  then  ?  " 
grunted  the  other. 

"  I  was  directed  here,  sir." 

"For  what?" 

"  To  procure  my  papers.     I  have  a  new  invention  —  " 

"  You  must  go  to  the  Patent  Office,  to  learn  about  that, 
man  !  " 

"Isn't  this  'the  Patent  office  building,'  sir?"  asked 
Ely,  somewhat  confused. 

"  This  is  the  War  Department  —  the  Commissary  Gene 
ral's  office." 

"  Where  is  the  Patent  Office,  if  you  please  ?  "  queried 
Hawes. 


"It  is  easy  to  make  money,"  observed  old  Blotint  to  Morris  Deans.  "  but  not  so  easy 
to  save,  and  keep  it.  It  is  harder  still  to  learn  how  to  enjoy  it,  wisely  and  rationally." 
[CHAP.  vi.  page  106. 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  155 

"  Half  a  mile  from  here." 

"  Which  way,  sir  ?  " 

"  Now  I  can't  give  you  any  more  of  my  valuable  time, 
sir.  I  am  not  a  walking  Directory.  You  must  not  tease 
me  any  farther,"  insisted  the  tall  clerk. 

And  he  went  on,  with  his  morning  paper. 

Ely  moved  out  of  "  nummer  vifteen,"  and  slowly  down 
the  stairs  —  away  from  the  War  Department,  to  seek  the 
place  which  he  supposed  he  first  had  found  correctly. 

And  after  some  inquiries  on  the  Avenue,  he  discovered 
the  building  he  was  in  search  of. 

By  the  time  he  had  contrived  to  propel  his  tired  body 
up  to  the  great  portal  of  the  Patent  Office  building,  it  had 
got  to  be  quite  two  o'clock. 

In  those  days,  "  two  P.M.  sharp "  was  the  hour  for 
closing  the  arduous  labors  of  the  day,  in  the  several 
government  Departments.  These  hard-toiling  clerks  com 
menced  at  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  And  it  was 
scarcely  to  be  expected  that  they  could  stand  it  to  con 
tinue  a  moment  beyond  the  required  '  regulation  time,'  on 
duty  ! 

So,  as  Ely  went  up  the  broad  steps,  there  came  rushing 
down  a  hundred  or  two  tired  clerks  —  all  '  done,  for  the 
day  '  —  on  their  way  home,  to  dinner.  For  even  govern 
ment  employe's  must  eat,  you  know.  How  else  could  they 
sustain  life  ?  They  couldn't,  of  course. 

So  great  was  the  outpouring,  and  so  earnest  were  the 
hurried  movements  of  this  horde  of  released  Department 


156        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

operatives  (for,  Washington  clerks  do  hurry,  on  the  way 
from  the  Departments,  to  dinner  !  though  they  are  habitu 
ally  prone  to  make  haste  very  slowly  in  going  to  their  daily 
work)  that  Ely  supposed  the  building  to  be  on  fire,  at  first 
sight. 

"  What's  the  matter?  "  he  asked,  innocently. 

But  no  one  stopped  to  answer  this  interrogation. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  "  he  repeated. 

Away  pushed  the  fast  retiring  clerks. 

44  Say,  what's  up  ?  "  he  reiterated. 

And  another  fat  man,  of  five-and-forty,  who  through 
physical  infirmity  couldn't  hurry,  replied  "  Did  you  speak 
to  me,  sir  ?  " 

"  What  is  the  row,  here  ?  "  asked  Hawes.  "  Is  the  house 
on  fire  ?  " 

"  I  think  not,  sir.     I  don't  smell  no  smoke,  do  you?  " 

44  No !  But,  where  are  all  these  people  running  to, 
sir?" 

"  Dinner,  my  friend.  Time's  up,  you  see.  Two  o'clock. 
Work  is  over,  for  to-day,  thank  God  !  " 

44  Don't  you  come  back  then  ?  "  inquired  Ely,  innocent- 

iy- 

44  O,  yes.  We  return  —  regular  as  clock-work,  my 
friend.  That's  the  rule.  We  can't  break  over  the  regu 
lations,  o'  course." 

44  Then  you  do  return  ?  " 

44  Yes.     To-morrow  morning." 

"Not  to-day?" 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  157 

"  No  —  bless  you  !  You  don't  suppose  we  can  work  all 
the  time,  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  know  what  your  office  hours  were,"  returned 
Ely. 

"  They're  enough,  heaven  knows !  From  ten  till  two. 
And  the  best  of  us  have  but  precious  poor  pay  for  that." 

"  How  much  ?  "  queried  Ely. 

"  None   of  us  get   over   twenty-four   hundred   a  year. 


-Vi 

HOW  HARD  THESE  MEN  TOIL,   IN  THE  PUBLIC  SERVICE! 

And  many  not  more  than  sixteen  or  eighteen  hundred  dol 
lars  per  annum,"  said  the  fat  man  —  moving  away. 

"  Poor  devils  !  "  exclaimed  Hawes,  with  mock  sympa 
thy.  "  How  hard  they  do  have  to  work,  here,  to  be  sure  ! 
And  only  five  to  eight  dollars  pay  for  a  service  of  three  or 
four  hours,  daily  !  This  is  really  too  bad.  And  yet, 
strange  to  say,  these  laborious  and  ill-requited  places  are 
always  filled  —  while  among  the  occupants  few  •  die,  and 


158 


A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


none  resign.  The  amount  of  real  patriotism  and  self- 
sacrifice  among  these  willing  office-holders  is  certainly  not 
to  be  commuted  !  " 

Then  a  well-fed  fellow  of  over  fifty  who  was  evidently 
at  home  in  this  locality,  came  very  slowly  down  from  the 

interior  of  the  building,  to  whom 
Ely  inquiringly  addressed  him 
self,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  a 
hint  that  might  serve  him,  at  the 
moment. 

"This  is  the  Patent  Office, 
I  believe  sir  ?  "  asked  Hawes. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  stout  man, 
without  halting  in  his  measured 
steps. 

"  You  are  an  official  here  ?  " 
"  Yes  —  I  should  say  so  —  " 
still  proceeding  toward  the  outer 
portal,  unconcernedly. 
"  Been  here  long,  sir?  " 
"A  matter  o'  two  an'  thirty 
year,"   returned  the   pursy  old 
clerk,  thrusting  his  hands  into 
his  coat  pockets,  and  moving  along. 

"  Ah,  then  you  can  tell  me  —  if  you  please,  to  whom  I 

should  apply  for  a " 

The  man  had  gone  straight  on  —  and  away.    He  was  out 
of  sight.     He  hadn't  time  to  stop,  on  the  way  to  dinner, 


A  MATTER  O*  TWO  AN'  THIRTY 
YEAR." 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


159 


to   vouchsafe   a  stranger  information,  gratis,  verily.     He 
was  too  old  a  settler  for  this ! 

"  The  long  and  the  short  of  it,  is,"  observed  Mr.  Puff- 
borl,  wheezingly,  alluding  to  the  confused  stranger,  as  he 
stood  before  a  tall  dapper  whiskered  chap  who  left  the 
building  last,  "  this  young  man  yender's  a  new-comer, 
altogether.  'Ee's  arter  an  app'intment,  I  reck'n.  An'  so 
I  zent  'im  up  ter  num- 
mer  vifteen.  They'll  take 
keer  o'  'im  in  nummer 
vifteen,  I  reck'n." 

"  Wants  an  appoint 
ment,  eh  ?  "  drawled  the 
tall  youth,  slowly. 

"  So  I  dhink,  from  'is 
eggsitement,  and  airnesd- 
ness.  'Ee  don't  appear 
to  know  edzac'ly  wot's 
the  matter  wi'  'im.  But 
nummer  vifteen'  11  set  'im 
all  right." 

"  I  wish  he  may  get  it,"  returned  the  long  young  man. 

And  Mr.  PufTborl  with  his  elongated  friend  turned  away 
leisurely,  dinner-ward. 

The  anxious  young  inventor  was  standing  alone,  upon 
the  steps  of  the  great  Patent  Office  building,  now. 

The  hive  had  been  emptied. 

Desks  were  closed.     Doors  were  being  fastened.     The 


THE   LO^G    AND  THE  SHOUT  OF  IT. 


160        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

busy  bees  and  the  humming  drones  were  all  gone,  now.  — 
It  was  three  minutes  past  two  o'clock,  P.M. 

Ely  stood  a  few  minutes  gazing  over  at  the  sluggish 
Potomac,  as  the  River  glided  silently  and  turbidly  down 
toward  the  ocean.  Then  he  descended  to  the  deserted 
sidewalk,  contemplatively,  en  route  to  his  lodgings  at  the 
Washington  House,  where  he  had  engaged  accommoda 
tions  for  a  week  or  two. 

There  was  but  a  single  human  being  immediately  within 
sight,  when  he  reached  the  walk  in  front  of  the  Patent 
office,  and  temporarily  halted  there.  This  was  a  decayed 
looking  darky  —  w  ho  evidently  saw  that  Ely  was  a  stran 
ger  in  the  capitol.  The  colored  man  touched  his  torn  hat 
respectfully  and  bowing,  said  — 

"  Want  ter  fine  sumfin',  Mass'r  ?  " 

44  What  ?  "  returned  Ely. 

"  Lookin'  fer  sumfin',  sah  ?  " 

Ely  eyed  the  sable  inquirer  an  instant,  and  answered 
"  No.  Who  be  you  ?  " 

44  Fse  Mass'r  Greene's  boy,  I  is,  sah." 

"  Master  Greene,  eh  ?  " 

44  Yis  sah." 

44  Who  is  he  ?  " 

44  Mass'r  Greene  ?  'ees  der  boss  yere,  ober  nummer  tirty- 
tree.  I'se  gwine  up  dar  ter  fix  up  der  room  fo'  'im.  Dar 
all  dun  gwine  fo'  to-day,  sah." 

44 1  know  it.     You're  employed  here,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  cleans  up  Massr's  room,  w'en  he's  gwoin  away  in 
der  art'noon  ;  dass  all,  sah." 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT. 


161 


"  Who  is  your  master,  then  ?  "  inquired  Hawes,  interest 
edly. 

"  'Ee's  der  boss  'zaminer,  sah,"  replied  the  colored  boy. 

"  The  boss  examiner,  eh  ?  " 

"  Yis,  sah,"  said  the  good  humored  servant. 

"  Of  Patents,  do  you  mean?"  continued  Ely. 

"  Yis  sah." 

"What  time  does  he  get 
here,  in  the  morning  ?  " 

u  Mos'ly  at  haaf  arter  nine 
about,  sah." 

"  Half  past  nine  ?  And  he 
is  chief  Examiner,  you  say  ?  " 

"  'Ee's  der  boss,  sah." 

"  Room  No  33,  you  said  ?  " 

"  Yis  sah  —  tirty-tree,  fuss 
flo',  leff  han'  side  —  wid  der 
glaass  pannels  ober  de  top." 

"  He  is  the  very  man  I  want 
to  see,"  said  Ely  —  "  the  Chief 
Examiner.  I  will  come  over 
in  the  morning.  Thank  you. 
What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  Me  ?     My  name's  Dick  —  Massa." 

"  Well,  Richard  —  I  will  —  " 

"  Dick,  sah." 

"  Ah,   yes.      I'll   come  round  in  the    morning,    Dick. 
Much  obliged  to  you." 


I'SE  MASS'K  GKEENE'S  BOY,  SAH.' 


162        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Dick  grinned  broadly  —  went  up  the  long  steps  into  the 
building,  with  his  broom  under  his  arm  —  and  Ely  returned 
to  his  hotel. 

Nothing  had  been  done,  so  far.  Hawes  had  not  made 
the  first  move  in  the  right  direction,  as  yet,  towards  pro 
curing  his  papers  for  the  patent. 

He  had  been  at  last  in  Washington  five  days.  And  he 
was  as  far  from  his  object,  or  from  any  knowledge  of  what 
he  had  yet  to  undergo,  as  he  was  when  he  arrived. 

He  dined  that  evening,  however,  went  to  bed,  and  slept 
soundly.  He  was  very  -tired.  But,  on  the  morrow  he 
would  find  and  confer  with  Mr.  Greene,  the  chief  Exam 
iner. 

"  Mr.  Greene  is  my  man,"  murmured  Ely,  as  he  threw 
himself  upon  his  mattress,  tired  out  at  last.  "  I'll  walk 
into  his  affections,  early  to-morrow  morning.  He's  the 
Chief  Examiner  —  the  man  I  want  to  meet.  He  must  be 
one  o*  the  twenty-four  hundred  a-year  chaps.  Not  bad  to 
take,  that  salary  —  fact !  " 

His  model  machine  stood  upon  the  table,  beside  his  bed. 
He  thought  over  all  the  past  toil  and  contriving  he  had 
bestowed  upon  his  pet  invention ;  and  congratulated  him 
self  that  he  had  at  last  arrived  within  sight  of  the  receipt 
of  his  coveted  Letters-Patent  —  which  he  would  no  doubt 
have  in  hand,  now,  in  a  few  hours,  or  days,  at  farthest. 

Poor  Ely !  He  had  never  before  attempted  to  accom 
plish  this  undertaking,  the  conclusion  of  which  in  his  case 
was  yet  so  far  away  in  the  dim  distance.  But  still  he 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT. 


163 


could  not  but  declare  to  himself  that  the  movements  of 
all  these  people  were  strangely  dilatory,  and  that  the  prog 
ress  they  made  was  "  slower  than  that  of  a  turtle  with  a 
slow  fever." 


THE  AVERAGE  BATE  OF  PROGRESS  IN  GETTING  OUT  A  PATENT  ! 


CHAPTER  XI. 

ME.  GREENE  AND  MR.  POMPUS  :  EXAMINEES. 

THE  name  of  the  Chief  Examiner,  at  this  time,  was 
not  Greene,  at  all  —  but  Mr.  Zintsing  Pompus ;  quite 
another  personage. 

Mr.  Greene  was  a  prominent  subordinate,  or  Assistant 
Examiner,  only. 

Pompus  was  of  German  origin.  A  short  enigmatical 
man  —  who  no  doubt  was  an  expert,  in  his  way.  But  his 
cognomen  was  not  euphonious,  though  it  was  altogether 
appropriate. 

He  knew  a  heap  o'  things,  so  Ely  declared,  that  the 
generality  of  mortals  had  not  yet  acquired:  mostly  in 
technicalities,  however.  And  he  had  a  mannerism  in  dis 
playing  his  "scientific  attainments,"  which  was  simply 
astonishing,  to  those  who  had  not  devoted  themselves  to 
the  study  of  the  dictionaries  of  inventive  art. 

Bright  and  early  next  day,  Ely  took  his  model  Lock 
under  his  arm,  and  found  his  way  to  u  Room  33,  first  floor, 
left,  with  the  glass  pannels  over  the  door,"  as  described 
by  obliging  Dick,  the  darky. 

104 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT. 


165 


This  was  a  spacious  apartment,  into  which  Hawes 
pushed  his  way  at  early  ten  o'clock,  where  he  discovered 
at  least  a  dozen  men,  hard  at  it  —  reading  the  daily 
papers,  again. 

All  these  people  were  politicians.  And  it  seemed  to 
Ely  that  a  careful  perusal  of  the  public  journals  was  the 
first  duty  of  these  gentlemen  —  any  way.  So  far  as  his 
observation  went,  at 
any  rate,  they  attend- 
ed  to  this  branch  of 
their  business  faith 
fully,  and  universally, 
at  all  hours ! 

"Mr.  Greene?  "que 
ried  Ely,  addressing 
himself  to  the  first  in 
dividual  he  encoun 
tered,  in  No.  33. 

The  gentleman  was 
busy.     He  was  poring  steadily  over  the  long  "  leader  "  in 
the  Constitution  newspaper. 

"  Ahem  —  Mr.  Greene  ?  "  repeated  Ely  civilly,  again. 

But,  whoever  he  was,  this  gentleman  vouchsafed  the 
visitor  no  reply. 

"  I  believe  this  is  Mr.  Greene  ? "  repeated  Hawes, 
raising  his  voice,  audibly.  "  I  would  like  to  trouble  you 
one  moment,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Greene." 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  yelped  this  functionary, 
sharply. 


"MB.   GREENE  — ONE  WORD,  IF  YOU   PLEASH." 


166  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  I  wish  to  confer  with  Mr.  Greene,"  returned  Ely. 

"  Why  don't  you  go  where  he  is,  then  ?  What  the 
devil  are  you  badgering  me  for,  I'd  like  to  know  ?  " 

"  Aren't  you  Mr.  Greene  ?  "  asked  Ely,  a  little  startled. 

"  No  \     I  am  not." 

"  Is  he  here,  sir  ?  " 

"  Tom  !  "  yelled  this  civil  clerk,  hailing  a  messenger. 
"  Take  this  man  away.  See  what  he  wants." 

Tom  came  outside  of  the  rail,  and  asked,  "  what  is  it?" 

"  I  want  to  find  Mr.  Greene,"  said  Ely. 

"  What  Greene,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  that." 

"  There's  six  of  'em,"  said  Tom.     "  Which  one  is  it  ?  " 

"  I  really  don't  know." 

"  How  can  I  direct  you,  then  ?  "  rejoined  Tom. 

"  It's  the  Examiner,  Greene." 

"  Of  patents  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  This  way,  then." 

And  Tom  brought  Mr.  Hawes  to  Mr.  Greene,  directly. 

Greene  proved  to  be  rather  an  accommodating  person, 
but  a  verjr  precise  and  methodical  man  —  who  never  per 
mitted  himself  to  move  out  of  the  department  ruts.  He 
bowed  stiffly  to  Ely,  who  said  — 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Greene.  I  want  to  get  out  patent 
papers  for  my  new  invention." 

"  Name,  sir  ?  " 

"  Of  the  invention  ?  " 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  167 

/ 

"  No,  your  name." 

"  Hawes,  sir." 

"  First  name  ?  " 

"  Ely.     Ely  Hawes,  sir." 

Greene  wrote  down  the  address,  as  he  understood  it, 
and  replied — 

"  Now,  Mr.  Orze  —  what  is  this  invention  ?  " 

"  Impenetrable  Bank-safe  Lock,  sir,  I  call  it." 

"  You  are  at  liberty  to  call  it  by  whatever  name  you 
choose,  Mr.  Orze.  You  are  an  American  citizen,  I  pre 
sume,  and  every  citizen  of  this  free  enlightened  Republic 
has  the  inalienable  right  to  call  his  own  invention  what  he 
likes.  But  this  title,  allow  me  to  suggest,  Mr.  Orze,  is  a 
very  elongated  one,  and  quite  unpronounceable,  by  per 
sons  possessing  only  the  ordinary  length  of  tongue,  and 
breath." 

"I, think  it  a  very  good  name,  sir  —  and  appropriate, 
as  well.  It  is  impenetrable." 

"  We  will  not  argue  the  point,  then,  Mr.  Orze." 

"  Hawes,  if  you  please,  sir." 

"  I  comprehend  you,  sir.  I  understand  your  name, 
perfectly.  I  did  not  allude  to  that,  Mr.  Orze,  but  to 
the  singularly  lengthened  title  of  your  proposed  new 
patent  safe." 

"  It  is  a  lock,  sir." 

"  Did  you  not  say  it  was  a  Bank  safe,  just  now,  Mr. 
Orze  ?  " 

"  Bank  Safe  Lock,  sir." 


168  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Ah,  yes.  I  have  it  so,  Mr.  Orze.  Now,  then  —  what 
have  you  done  about  it,  so  far  ?  " 

"  It  is  all  completed,  sir.     I  have  it  here,  with  me." 

"  I  mean  what  have  you  done  already  towards  procur 
ing  Letters  Patent  for  this  safe  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  sir." 

"  Then  you  must  begin  at  the  beginning,  of  course, 
Mr.  Orze." 

"  I  filed  a  caveat,  some  time  ago,  sir —  " 

44  Yes.     That  was  right." 

"  And  now  I  want  my  papers."  - 

"  Is  this  all  you  have  done  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Well — you  now  apply  to  me,  I  presume,  for  informa 
tion  as  to  what  you  need  to  do  next,  Mr.  Orze.  Is  that 
it?" 

"  I  merely  want  my  papers  —  that  is  all,  sir,"  said  Ely. 
"  I've  got  the  model,  and  the  money  to  pay  the  fees,  and 
I  desire  to  take  the  documents  home  with  me,  when  I 
leave  Washington ;  which  I  hope  to  do  to-morrow  or  the 
next  day,  if  possible." 

Mr.  Greene  looked  cautiously  into  Ely's  honest  face,  as 
if  he  deemed  him  loony,  and  said  "  Mr.  Orze,  you  have 
never  taken  out  a  Patent  from  this  Department  yet,  I 
presume  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  I  thought  so,"  ventured  the  clerk. 

44  Why?  That  doesn't  prevent  me  from  doing  so,  in 
this  instance,  does  it?  "  queried  Ely. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  169 

"  Oh,  no.  But  there  are  certain  forms  to  go  through, 
Mr.  Orze  —  certain  Departmental  regulations  to  be 
observed  —  in  all  cases,  in  this  sort  of  proceeding,  of 
course." 

"  I  know  that,  sir.  But  I  want  to  push  it  through  — 
that's  all." 

"  We  never  permit  any  pushing,  in  this  Department, 
Mr.  Orze.  There  is  just  so  much  to  be  done  here,  and  it 
must  be  done,  in  form,  before  any  thing  official  emanates 
from  this  Department,  in  the  shape  of  Letters  Patent." 

"  That  is  what  I  am  here  to  do,  sir,  when  I  can  learn 
what  I  am  required  to  do." 

"  Precisely,  Mr.  Orze.  Now  then,  you  have  filed  your 
caveat  —  " 

"  Yes  sir,  long  ago." 

"  Very  good.  It  will  be  necessary  to  have  drawings  of 
your  Bank-safe  made  —  " 

"  Lock,  sir,"  said  Ely,  again. 

"  Lock,  I  mean.  Yes.  You  must  have  drawings  made 
—  in  whole,  and  in  parts :  sectional,  elevatory,  longitudi 
nal,  horizontal,  and  perspective,  for  the  use  of  this 
Department.  Then  you  will  file  your  specifications  of 
claim  too,  and  record  your  declaration,  etc.  Then  your 
working  model  must  be  submitted,  and  examined,  to 
guard  prior  inventors  against  infringements.  Your  papers, 
specifications,  drawings,  and  machine  will  then  be  in  read 
iness —  as  soon  as  they  can  be  reached  —  to  be  "filed" 
in  this  Department,  for  due  reference  at  the  proper  time 


170  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

to  the  Examining  Department.  That  Department,  though 
connected  with  this  in  Departmental  business,  is  a  sepa 
rate  Department,  nevertheless,  in  effect.  Because,  you 
perceive,  Mr.  Orze,  that  the  incipient  manipulations  of 
the  to-be-examined  documents  are  all  conducted  in  this 
Department  before  they  can,  by  the  regular  course,  be 
recognized  in  the  Department  to  which  I  have  alluded. 
The  Examining  Department  will  await  the  official  Report 
in  your  case,  Mr.  Orze,  before  it  can  act,  therefore — at 
all.  Then  that  Department,  upon  receiving  from  this 
Department,  (through  the  intermediate  Department, 
where  every  thing  from  this  Department  is  engrossed 
before  it  goes  to  the  Examiners'  Department,)  will  —  as 
soon  as  it  comes  up,  in  regular  routine  —  report  back  to 
this  Department  whether,  or  not,  your  proposed  new  Safe, 
or  Lock,  or  whatever  you  conclude  to  call  it,  is  patenta- 
ble,  at  all.  Mind  you,  I  do  not  say  it  is,  or  is  not.  If  it 
z»,  the  Examining  Department,  through  the  Intermediate 
Department,  will  notify  this  Department  of  the  fact,  pro. 
or  con.  and  then  this  Department  will  be  able  to  make 
such  report  to  the  upper  Department,  upon  the  merits  of 
your  case,  as  upon  final  Examination  in  this  Department, 
the  facts  may  seem  to  warrant.  All  this  takes  time,  Mr. 
Orze,  as  you  will  now  comprehend,  after  the  lucid  expla 
nation  I  have  given  you,  briefly.  If  your  proposed  inven 
tion  is  rejected  by  the  upper  Department,  for  any  cause  — 
(and  this  is  a  very  common  occurrence  I  assure  you,  for 
various  causes)  the  report  from  that  Department  is  for- 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  171 

warded  to  the  engrossing  Department,  and  from  that  to 
this  Department ;  whereupon,  as  soon  as  it  is  reached  in 
regular  order,  this  Department  will  notify  the  nominal 
inventor  of  his  non-success ;  and  there  the  matter  termi 
nates.  But  no  case  goes  from  this  Department  to  the 
other  Departments,  until  it  falls  into  the  regular  channel, 
in  course.  We  do  all  we  can  —  but  we  cannot  move  any 
faster,  Mr.  Orze,  than  the  Departmental  force  can  accom 
plish  the  work  assigned  to  it  —  in  the  regular  order  of 
receipt.  You  comprehend  me,  I  presume,  Mr.  Orze  ?  " 

"  And  my  case  goes  into  line,  then,  from  to-day  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  How  many  are  there  before  me,  on  your  lists,  Mr. 
Greene  ?  " 

"  I  could  not  answer  that  question,  Mr.  Orze,  without  a 
reference  to  the  Departmental  records.  But  I  should  say, 
at  a  venture,  there  were  twenty-three  or  twenty-four  hun 
dred." 

"  Twenty-four  hundred  before  me  ?  " 

"  At  least  that,  Mr.  Orze." 

"  When  do  you  imagine  mine  can  be  reached  ?  " 

"  I  couldn't  say,  really,  Mr.  Orze.  But  just  as  soon  as 
we  can  arrive  at  it,  in  due  course.  Now,  I  will  file  your 
application,  duly  —  and  you  must  excuse  me  ;  for  I  have  a 
great  deal  to  do,  to-day.  You  can  call  again,  in  the  course 
of  a  month,  say  —  and  we  will  then  inform  you  what  has 
been  done  in  your  case,  in  this  Department,  and  when  it 
will  be  worth  your  while  to  —  call  again." 


172 


A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


Mr.  Ely  Hawes  was  a  modest  man,  though  his  talent 
was  genuine,  and  he  bore  every  appearance  of  the  well- 
dressed  comely  intelligent  gentleman  —  as  he  was. 

The  supercilious  clerk  who  had  him  in  hand  turned  up 
his  supercilious  nose,  at  last,  and  inquired  in  his  most 
offensively  officious  way,  as  he  pushed  a  big  book  before 
him  towards  Ely—"  Ah,  I  say  Mr.  Orze,  you  are  able  to 
write  yer  name,  I  sp'ose,  eh  ?  Yer  can  write,  I  take  it  ?  " 

Ely  made  no  reply,  but  taking 
the  pen,  he  signed  his  name  as  re 
quired  in  the  impertinent  clerk's 
book,  and  left  this  hopeful  govern 
ment  pimp  to  his  leisure. 

Mr.  Greene  then  took  up  a  print 
ed  blank,  upon  which  he  scribbled 
these  words  :  —  "  ELI  ORZE  —  ap 
plication  July  7  —  Portable  Bank 
Safe  "  —  and  bowed  the  young  in 
ventor  toward  the  door. 

This  precious  document  was 
thrown  into  a  pigeon-hole  among  the  O's,  naturally,  and 
the  Departmental  underlings,  when  they  "  reached  it " 
some  weeks  afterwards,  filed  it  away,  hopelessly  —  since  it 
should  have  been  indorsed  Ely  Hawes,  and  been  placed 
among  the  H's.  of  course  ! 

Ely  had  listened  to  this  long  story,  but  could  not  com 
prehend  much  of  it,  and  remembered  less.  But  the  desks 
began  to  be  closed  again  —  the  clerks  were  hurrying  away 


"AH,  YES.   YOU  CAN  WHITE 
YOUR  NAME  ?  " 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  173 

—  and  he  found  that  two  o'clock  had  come  round  again,  as 
he  mournfully  left  this  foggy  "  Department." 

Not  until  the  following  day,  at  noon,  was  he  able  to 
bring  himself  into  contact  with  the  party  with  whom  he 
intended  to  make  direct  communication  in  the  first  instance 

—  to  wit,  the  Chief  Examiner,  Zintsing  Pompus,  esquire. 
This  man  after  all,  so  Ely  fancied,  was  the  proper  person 

to  see  in  his  case  —  which  he  deemed  a  very  simple  affair, 
albeit  Mr.  Greene  had  surrounded  his  matter  with  a  won- 
drously  complicated  veil  of  unmitigated  haze,  during  their 
late  interview  at  Room  No.  33. 

After  numerous  rebuffs  and  many  more  inquiries,  the 
patient  inventor  found  the  private  office  of  Mr.  Pompus, 
to  whose  notice  he  concluded  he  would  address  himself 
without  circumlocution,  and  without  reference  to  what  Mr. 
Greene  had  stated  to  him  —  satisfied  that  it  would  have 
been  more  to  his  profit  had  he  at  the  outset  applied  to 
head  quarters. 

"  You  are  Chief  Examiner  of  Patents,  I  think,"  began 
Hawes,  upon  being  shown  into  the  august  presence  of 
this  important  personage. 

Ely  had  his  small  model  lock  in  his  hand,  and  was 
obliged  to  wait  some  minutes  for  Mr.  Pompus  to  attend  to 
him.  When  that  pursy  and  fussy  gentleman  came  round 
to  it,  he  approached  Mr.  Hawes  with  an  air  of  con 
sequential  civility,  as  the  inventor  stood  at  the  end  of  the 
long  table  in  readiness  to  make  his  appeal  to  the  Chief,  but 
that  big-bellied  functionary  anticipated  the  humble  appli- 


174 


A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


cant  as  he  came  forward,  with  the  common-place  inquiry, 
in  a  patronizing  tone  — 

4k  Well  sir,  what  have  you  got?" 

"  I  am  desirous  to  obtain  a  patent  for  a  new  bank-safe 
lock,  if  you  please,  sir." 

"  Ah,  yes.  Come  in  —  come  in,  sir.  We'll  see  about 
it,"  responded  Pompus,  dubiously. 

And  Ely  gladly  followed  the  portly  Mr.  Pompus  directly 

to  his  desk,  in  the  rear  of  the 
great  room. 

"You   are   Mr.  Pompus?" 
said  Ely. 

"  I  am  that  individual,"  re 
turned    Pompus,  gravely   and 
majestically.     "  Who   have   I 
the  honor  of  meeting,  to-day  ?  " 
"Me?     I  am   Mr.  Hawes, 
sir  —  inventor  of  the  Impene- 
ASKEDMR.  trable   Bank-Safe   Lock,"   re 
plied  Ely. 

"  Ah,  yes.     Sit  down,  sir.     I  have  never  heard  of  this 
invention.     You  said  Orrs,  I  think.     Not  Hobbs  —  " 
44  Hawes,  sir.     Ely  —  of  Boston." 

41 1  know  a  Mr.  Ely,  of  Boston  —  a  Patent  lawyer  there, 
if  I  remember.  A  very  able  man,  in  his  way.  Any  rela 
tion,  Mr.  Ely  ?  " 

44  My  name  is  Ely  Hawes,  Mr.  Pompus,"  returned  the 
inventor,  wondering  how  all  these  people  should  be  perpet 
ually  mistaking  his  plainly  pronounced  name. 


WHAT  HAVE  YOU  GOT 

POMPUS,   POMPOUSLY. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  175 

< 

44  Well,  Mr.  Orrs,  what  can  I  do  for  you  ? "  rejoined 
Pompus,  mechanically. 

44  I  wish  to  procure  Letters  Patent  for  my  Lock,  sir." 

44  Oh,  that  is  it,  eh  ?  Well,  the  process  is  very  simple, 
sir.  It  is  only  necessary  that  you  proceed  in  due  form. 
There  is  a  right  and  a  wrong  way,  in  most  concerns  of  life. 
But  in  this  kind  of  transaction  there  is  but  one  way  — 
that  is,  the  legal,  regular,  established,  routine  course,  Mr. 
Orrs." 

4'  Hawes,  if  you  please,  sir." 

44  How  do  you  spell  it  ?  " 

44  With  an  H." 

4*  Ah,  yes.     Well,  Mr.  Hawes,  you  must  begin  en  regie" 

u  What  is  that,  sir?" 

<4  In  order  —  in  form  —  in  due  course  —  in  regular  rou 
tine." 

44  And  that  course ?  " 

44  Is  to  begin  at  the  commencement,  Mr.  Hawes." 

44 1  have  already  filed  my  caveat,  sir." 

"  Now  you  want  to  go  right  on,  then,  if  you  are  ready." 

44 1  am  waiting,  sir." 

44  Yes.  You  must  necessarily  wait.  Your  papers  cannot 
issue  from  this  Department  until  your  invention  is 
described,  model  submitted,  case  examined,  same  reported 
upon,  and  facts  determined  whether  it  is  an  original  and 
patentable  article.  All  this  will  be  decided  upon  and 
acted  on,  in  due  course — beginning  at  the  beginning. 
When  your  proposed  implement  is  thus  specified,  submit- 


]  76  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

ted  IL  model,  examined,  decided  on  as  to  its  patentability, 
and  reported  on,  favorably  —  it  will  in  due  course  reach 
this  Department.  This  Department  will  return  its  official 
approval  and  instructions  to  the  Intermediate  Department ; 
that  Department,  when  able  to  pass  upon  it,  will  report 
it  to  the  Examining  Department ;  then  the  rightful 
Department  through  which  all  Patents  are  promulgated, 
finally,  will  issue  notice  to  the  inventor,  accordingly ;  and 
he  can  then  proceed,  in  regular  order,  towards  obtaining 
the  Letters  Patent  applicable  to  his  individual  case.  I  say 
individual  case,  Mr.  Hawes,  because  each  case  must  stand 
or  fall  upon  its  o.wn  intrinsic  merits,  you  observe.  To 
bring  about  this  result  in  order,  and  with  due  considera 
tion  for  the  claims  and  rights  of  all  parties,  Mr.  Hawes, 
it  is  necessary  that  the  utmost  care  and  deliberation  —  as 
well  as  circumlocution  should  be  observed  —  in  all  the 
Departments  of  the  Patent  office." 

As  Mr.  Zintsing  Pompus  at  this  point  halted  to  take 
breath,  and  swallow  a  glass  of  colored  water,  Ely  availed 
himself  of  the  opportunity  afforded  to  ask  a  question. 

"  How  much  time  does  all  this  formidable  manipulation 
involve,  to  consummate  the  applicant's  wish,  in  a  given 
case,  Mr.  Pompus?" 

"  Well,  Mr.  Hawes  —  that  depends,"  said  Pompus, 
pompously. 

"  Depends  ?     Upon  what,  sir  ?  " 

"  Upon  the  palpability  of  the  case ;  the  character  of 
the  invention  —  the  complications  that  ordinarily  arise  in 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  177 

all  cases  where  there  is  any  peculiarity  in  the  design  — - 
the  pre-eminent  probabilities  that  the  device  is  an  infringe 
ment  upon  prior  creations  of  a  similar  nature  —  and  a 
hundred  technical  et  ceterse  that  I  have  not  time  to  partic 
ularize  ;  such  as  the  general  elimination  of  the  principles 
involved,  the  elucidation  and  scholium  requisite  to  be 
observed  regarding  its  intricacies,  the  disintegrating  and 
severance  of  the  combinations,  and  the  final  distribution 
of  its  orders  of  excellence,  or  otherwise." 

Ely  Hawes  had  got  into  a  profuse  sweat,  by  this  time, 
while  his  informant  appeared  perfectly  cool  and  serene. 
-  The  profundity  of  the  intellectual  dissertation  he  had 
listened  to,  quite  overcame  the  youthful  inventor ;  and  he 
began  to  make  up  his  mind  that  his  simple  but  really  inge 
nious  contrivance  would  never  bear  any  such  conglomer 
ated  investigation  and  tautological  assault  as  seemed  to  be 
contemplated  in  these  sagacious  but  long-winded  sugges 
tions. 

"  Is  there  no  shorter  way  than  this  to  obtain  Letters- 
Patent,  for  a  simple  device  like  mine,  Sir  ?  "  asked  Ely, 
in  despair. 

"  There  is  but  one  mode,  Mr.  Hawes.  Whether  it  be 
for  a  pen-holder  or  a  steam-engine,  it  is  the  same." 

The  poor  mechanic  bowed  his  head  —  and  threw  up  the 
sponge ! 

As  he  was  turning  away,  Mr.  Zintsing  Pompus  said 
"perhaps,  Mr.  Hawes,  if  you  should  employ  a  Patent 
Solicitor  to  attend  to  your  little  affair  with  this  Depart 
ment,  it  would  materially  assist  you  —  sooner  or  later." 


178        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"Would  this  expedite  matters,  Mr.  Pompus?" 

"  I  don't  say  that,  sir.  I  merely  suggest  that  you  are 
quite  unfamiliar  with  the  modus  operandi  and  the  ramifi 
cations  of  the  routine  of  this  Department.  A  Patent 
Solicitor  will  give  us  less  trouble,  and  you  no  inconveni 
ence  —  except  to  pay  his  charges  ;  which  are  independent 
of  the  legitimate  fees  of  this  Department,  of  course." 

"Where  can  I  find  this  gentleman  you  mention,  sir?" 
asked  Ely,  somewhat  relieved. 

Mr.  Zintsing  Pompus  handed  Ely  a  card,  several  of 
which  he  seemed  to  have  close  at  hand,  on  which  he  read 
the  address  of  "ELTON  SHROOD,  Attorney  —  0  Street." 

And  Mr.  Hawes  i  went  for '  Mr.  Shrood,  without  far 
ther  comment,  or  delay. 

"  On  C  Street,  Mr.  Orrs,"  advised  Pompus,  handing 
Ely  the  bit  of  pasteboard.  "  You  will  find  Mr.  Shrood 
an  educated  gentleman,  and  quite  aufait  in  his  calling." 

"  Thank  you,"  returned  Hawes,  looking  at  the  address. 

"  You  comprehend,  Mr.  Orrs,  that  the  necessities  in 
your  case  are  not  exceptional,  at  all.  This  Department  is 
in  no  wise  complicated  in  its  ramifications,  when  once  its 
formula  is  appreciated.  Mr.  Shrood  is  an  experienced 
Solicitor,  and  he  will  understand  precisely  what  to  do  in 
the  premises.  It  takes  time  to  acquire  this  knowledge. 
He  knows  how  to  do  it.  Good  morning,  sir." 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Pompus,"  returned  Ely,  more 
hopefully  —  as  he  was  thus  bowed  out  of  the  solemn  pres 
ence  of  this  dignitary,  who  had  so  completely  astounded 
and  perplexed  him. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  .       179 

"I  trust  that  Providence  will  kindly  permit  me,"  ob 
served  Ely,  reverently,  "  to  get  out  of  this  place,  alive. 
I  want  my  Patent  papers.  And  I  will  have  them,  before 
I  leave  Washington.  But,  once  clear  of  the  limits  of  this 
departmental  city  —  with  those  documents  in  my  hands  — 
if  I  am  ever  caught  in  this  burg  again,  it  will  be  after 
this  !  " 

He  went  on,  hunting  for  Mr.  Elton,  on  C  Street,  for  a 
time.  Then  he  discovered  that  it  was  Mr.  Elton  Shrood 
he  desired  to  meet. 

And  after  pacing  down  and  up  the  elongated  street 
upon  both  sides,  and  half  way  back  again  after  he  discov 
ered  the  mistake  he  had  made,  his  eye  fell  upon  a  little 
tin  sign  bearing  the  address  of  "  E.  Shrood,  Solicitor  and 
Claim  Agent." 

Ely  entered  this  gentleman's  quiet  office,  and  thanked 
his  stars  that  he  had  found  a  man  in  Washington^,  at  last, 
who  was  not  so  busily  engaged  in  reading  a  newspaper  as 
to  be  unable  to  vouchsafe  him  some  show  of  attention. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

OUR  YOUNG  MECHANIC  MAKES  A  POINT. 

ELY  having  adopted  the  advice  of  Mr.  Zintsing  Pom- 
pus,  readily  secured  the  aid  of  lawyer  Shrood,  who  was  a 
very  good  Claim  and  Patent  Agent. 

He  was  known  familiarly  in  the  Departments,  and  he 
was  himself  intimately  acquainted  with  all  the  ropes  in 
that  ship.  What  he  couldn't  do  —  when  he  undertook  it 
—  was  not  worth  doing  in  the  management  of  this  sort  of 
case,  it  was  admitted. 

His  fee  in  advance  for  services  was  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  If  the  thing  were  brought  to  a  head  within 
sixty  days,  Ely  promised  him  another  hundred  dollars.  If 
in  forty  days  —  two  hundred  more.  If  he  accomplished 
the  business  in  thirty  days,  Hawes  would  pay  him  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  additional.  "  And  sharp's  the 
word,  now,"  concluded  Ely. 

"  I  want  to  get  out  of  this  town.  I  have  no  doubt  it 
is  a  very  nice  place  to  reside  in  —  for  those  who  like  it. 
I  say  nothing  against  it,  but  I  don't  I  For  every  week 
less  than  four  weeks  from  to-day  that  you  gain,  in  point 

180 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  181 

of  time  in  this  business,  Mr.  Shrood,  I  will  pay  you  fifty 
dollars  in  addition  to  the  promised  two  hundred  and  fifty, 
extra.  I  am  heartily  sick  of  Washington.  Bring  me  my 
Patent  papers  in  fifteen  days  —  and  I  will  pay  you  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  more  than  you  have  already 
charged  me.  Come  !  " 

"  You  may  rely  on  my  best  endeavors,  sir,"  said  the 
attorney,  politely.  "  Still,  there  is  just  so  much  to  be 
done,  you  observe.  And  these  people  are  not  easily  hur 
ried,  you  may  feel  assured." 

"It  is  immaterial  to  me  how  this  thing  is  accomplished, 
so  that  it  is  legally  and  rightfully  concluded,"  rejoined 
Ely.  "  But  I  am  anxious  to  return  home,  and  I  shall 
not  leave  without  my  papers." 

As  Ely  left  Shrood's  office,  at  length,  he  encountered 
upon  the  sidewalk  the  full-blown  figure  of  his  friend  Mr. 
Puffborl,  whom  he  first  met  at  the  War  Department,  in 
Washington.  Puffborl  instantly  recognized  him,  and 
wheezingly  accosted  the  anxious  mechanic. 

"  Ah  —  'ow  ar  yer  ?  Yer  vound  'im  't  last,  eh  ?  I 
didn't  know  wot  }Ter  war  arter,  to'ther  day.  Yas.  Yer 
a  gittin  out  a  patent  —  eh  ?  I  thort  it  were  a  app'intment. 
Nummer  vifteen  warn't  right.  But  ef  yer'd  a  tole  me  yer 
case,  I'd  a  put  yer  on  the  drack,"  continued  Puffborl, 
grasping  the  Yankee  inventor's  hand,  and  passing  his  other 
palm  familiarly  up  to  Ely's  shoulder,  in  a  kindly  way. 

"  I  am  getting  along  nicely,  now,  thank  you,"  returned 
Hawes.  "  Mr.  Shrood  has  taken  charge  of  my  case." 


182 


A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


"  Orl  c'reck  then.  Ee'l  vix  it  up  vor  yer.  'Ee  knows 
wot's  wot,  in  the  patent  line,"  said  Puffborl,  patronizingly, 
as  he  left  Ely  upon  the  walk  again. 

Mr.  Attorney  Shrood  went  to  work  directly,  and  hearti 
ly,  in  Ely  Hawes'  interest.  This  was  a  paying  job ! 

There  was  a  prospect  of 
round  remuneration  for  his 
services,  and  he  soon  as 
certained  that  the  young 
inventor  had  really  devised 
a  good  thing,  in  his  "  im 
proved  combination  lock." 
At  first  it  was  thought 
that  the  principle  of  action 
was  not  altogether   new. 
But    this    objection    was 
overcome  speedily,  through 
Shrood' s  management  and 
arguments,  since   he   was 
well  conversant  with  pre 
vious  American  inventions 
MR.  PUFFBORL  GROWS  AFFECTIONATE.       Q£  fyfe  character,  and  his 
legal  opinion  was  highly  respected  at  the  Department. 

Besides  this,  Shrood  was  in  earnest.     Through  his  zeal 
in  pushing  this  affair,  personally,  (and  a  little  extra  work 
and  pay  among  the  proper  parties),  a  few  «  over-hours 
were  devoted  to  this  matter,  in  the  examinations  and 
warding  of  the  official  documents  in  the  case. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  183 

And  thus  the  affair  of  Mr.  Hawes  took  a  fresh  start  im 
mediately,  and  went  along,  glibly  —  for  the  time  being. 

Ely  wandered  about  the  city  —  saw  what  was  to  be  seen 
—  visited  the  different  points  of  interest  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  —  went  to  Mount  Vernon  the  estate  of  George 
Washington,  to  Arlington  the  Lee  estate,  to  Bladensburg, 
Silver  Springs,  Alexandria,  Georgetown  —  and  visited  the 
monuments,  the  Capitol  Buildings,  the  White  House,  the 
pictures,  statuary,  and  the  theatres.  And  finally  wore 
himself  out  with  the  heat,  and  trudging  up  and  down  over 
the  "  magnificent  distances  "  that  separated  the  different 
notable  locations  in  and  around  the  great  Federal  City. 

Thus  fourteen  days  expired,  and  he  had  been  able  to 
obtain  from  his  Patent  Agent,  Shrood,  only  the  stereotype 
report  "  We  are  getting  along,  Mr.  Hawes,  as  rapidly  as 
possible.  But  it  takes  time,  and  needs  patience  to-  get 
these  Patent  papers  through." 

Ely  had  gone  out  of  Shrood's  office  that  day  but  two  or 
three  minutes,  when  the  Attorney  on  looking  up  at  his 
front  window  saw  the  passers-by  hurrying  down  and 
across  C  Street,  furiously ;  as  if  some  unusual  object 
attracted  them  from  their  customary  habit  of  lounging 
leisurely  along  in  the  heat. 

He  stepped  down  to  see  what  had  occurred,  and  found 
three  or  four  men  in  the  act  of  raising  and  bearing  aside  to 
the  grassy  square,  the  figure  of  a  man  who  had  been 
thrown  down  at  the  street-corner  by  a  furious  runaway 
team,  that  was  flying  away  in  the  distance,  as  he  came  up. 


184 


A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 


The  poor  fellow  was  bleeding  at  the  mouth  and  ears, 
and  his  appearance  was  indeed  deplorable. 
"  Who  is  he  ?     He's  dead,  I  reckon." 
"  Does  anybody  know  hiin  ?  "  asked  the  crowd. 
"  I  do,"  says  Shrood. 


THE  ACCIDENT. —  "  HE'S  DEAD,  I  RECKON." 

"  Where  does  he  belong  ?  " 

"  Call  a  surgeon,"  replied  the  Attorney,  briskly. 
"  Here !  Take  him  into  my  office.  He  is  stopping  at  the 
Washington  House.  If  he  isn't  dead,  we'll  get  him  down 
there,  directly,  as  soon  as  the  Doctor  arrives.  Hurry  up  !  " 

The   active   directions   of  Shrood   were   humanely  fol- 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  185 

lowed,  and  Ely  was  quickly  stretched  easily  upon  the 
lawyer's  sofa  —  where  medical  aid  was  soon  summoned 
beside  him. 

He  was  utterly  unconscious,  however. 

The  surgeon  arrived,  stripped  his  outer  garments  off, 
examined  his  breast  and  limbs,  and  found  no  broken  bones, 
fortunately. 

His  head  was  bruised,  but  the  skull  was  not  fractured, 
it  was  ascertained.  But  he  lay  speechless  for  half  an  hour, 
and  the  Doctor  having  bathed  his  temples  and  injured 
scalp,  concluded  the  shock  or  blow  he  had  encountered 
had  affected  his  spine,  probably. 

At  the  end  of  nearly  an  hour,  the  young  man  opened 
his  eyes,  glared  about  him,  and  asked  — 

"What  is  it?     What  did  it?" 

"  Quiet,  now,"  suggested  the  Doctor,  kindly.  "  You 
have  been  hurt —  but  I  trust  not  seriously." 

"  What  happened  ?  Ah,  Mr.  Shrood  —  I  see  you.  Did 
I  fall?" 

"  No.  It  is  all  right,"  returned  Shrood,  encouragingly. 
"  You  were  stricken  down,  they  tell  me,  as  you  turned 
the  corner,  by  a  runaway  team.  But  you  will  come  round 
right,  I  reckon,  if  you  don't  fret  over  it —  eh,  doctor?  " 

"  Yes.  Let  him  lie  here,  at  present.  I  think  it  is  only 
a  temporary  shock,  luckily.  Keep  him  quiet,  but  don't 
allow  him  to  sleep,  if  you  can  avoid  it  without  worrying 
him.  I  will  be  back  in  an  hour.  I  am  obliged  to  call  on 
a  patient,  who  is  taken  ill,  suddenly  —  but  will  return  at 
the  -earliest  possible  moment." 


186        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Shrood  sat  down  b}-  the  side  of  the  sufferer,  talked  to 
him,  softly,  at  intervals,  fanned  him,  and  bathed  his  head 
and  face  —  and  within  the  next  hour,  Ely  was  sitting  up, 
—  quite  recovered,  seemingly. 

When  the  Doctor  returned,  he  pronounced  his  patient 
safe.  Before  sunset,  he  was  taken  to  his  hotel  lodgings. 
And  there  he  remained  five  weeks,  before  he  was  permit 
ted  to  ride  out,  after  this  unfortunate  accident  occurred  to 
him.  A  violent  fever  succeeded  the  wretched  shock,  and 
he  was  greatly  reduced  in  physical  condition,  ultimately. 

Jimmy  Buck,  the  young  Washington  carriage-driver  was 
close  at  hand,  after  the  accident  to  Ely.  He  had  witnessed 
the  knock-down,  and  his  mud-spattered  vehicle  was 
brought  before  the  lawyer's  door,  instanter,  when  he 
observed  that  the  fallen  traveller  had  been  borne  into 
Shrood's  office. 

There  was  a  job  in  prospective,  he  fancied,  whether  the 
victim  were  dead  or  alive,  after  this  occurrence ;  and 
Jimmy,  who  was  of  an  enterprising  turn  of  mind  in  his 
business,  proposed  to  be  on  hand  seasonably. 

He  hung  round  the  door,  smiled  at  the  doctors  and  visit 
ors  who  came  and  went,  and  remained  at  his  chosen  post 
until  Ely's  friend  desired  the  services  of  a  whip  —  when 
he  stepped  cheerily  up,  with  the  salutation,  "  kerrige, 
mass'r  ?  It's  rite  yere,  afo'  de  do'.  Been  yere  a  waitin* 
fo'  de  gemmen  dese  tree  'ours,  sah." 

And  Jimmy  bore  the  wounded  Hawes  away  to  the 
Washington  House,  at  a  cautious  pace,  charging  the  un- 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


1S7 


lucky  stranger  for  the  time  he  had  been  lingering  before 
the  lawyer's  door. 

Ely  paid  the  grinning  darkey  driver  six  dollars  for  his 
attentions  ;   which    Jimmy  de 
clared  was  "  dog-cheap,  mass'r." 

The  sufferer  was  in  no  condi 
tion  to  bargain  or  higgle  with 
his  cullud  friend,  on  this  occa 
sion.  Had  he  been  posted  re 
garding  the  nominal  city  car 
riage-hire  regulations,  however, 
he  would  have  known  that  the 
smiling  Washington  whip  was 
legally  entitled  to  but  six  York 
shillings  for  this  service. 

He  entered  his  hotel,  and 
Jimmy  Buck  disappeared  with 
his  plunder,  perfectly  satisfied 
with  this  bit  of  sharp  practice. 

But  Ely  was  stout  of  heart 
and  strong  in  natural  constitu 
tion.     He  rallied,  at  last,  and 
came   out   of  his    jeopardy  in 
safety  —  thanks  to  his  own  pre 
vious  good  habits,  and  the  zeal-       JIMMY,  THE  WASHINGTON  WHIP. 
ous  care  he  received  at  the  hands  of  attorney  Shrood  and 
the  skilful  surgeon  who  attended  him. 

About  a  week  after  the  fever  took  a  favorable  turn  in 


ItStf  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

Ely's  case,  he  convalesced  rapidly,  and  Mr.  Shrood  said 
to  him  "  You  are  getting  along  nicely  Mr.  Hawes,  I  am 
happy  to  learn  from  our  physician." 

"  Yes,  I  am  quite  strong,  I  think,"  returned  Ely. 
"How  do  we  get  on  with  the  Patent  papers,  sir?"  l.e 
inquired. 

"  Well,  you  mustn't  bother  your  head  about  that  sub 
ject,  the  Doctor  says  —  for  the  present.  We  have  done 
very  well." 

"  Not  completed  yet,  eh  ?  " 

"  When  you  are  able  to  hear  good  or  bad  news,  my 
dear  sir,  it  will  be  quite  time  to  discuss  the  Patent  mat 
ter." 

"  I  can  take  it  as  it  comes,"  said  Ely,  courageously. 

"  Equal  to  either  fortune,  eh  ?  " 

"  O,  yes." 

"  Well,  you  mustn't  get  excited  about  it." 

"No.  I  am  very  calm.  Has  our  application  been 
rejected  ?  "  asked  Ely. 

"  Not  at  all." 

"What  then?" 

"  The  report  was  concluded  near  a  week  ago,  Mr. 
Hawes  —  but  you  were  too  ill  to  hear  about  it." 

"  Favorable,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes.  And  your  Letters  Patent  are  already  issued. 
I  have  them  at  my  office." 

"  Thank  you  —  thank  you  —  "  said  Ely,  earnestly.  "  I 
am  really  much  better,  now,  Mr.  Shrood." 


"I  say.  Frank,  come  down!"  shouted  Ely,  hurrying  to  the  stairway,  in  Meyers' 
lodgings,  on  his  return  from  Washington.    "  I've  got  the  papers!  "    [€H.VP.  xii.  p.  101. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  191 

"  I  will  bring  the  documents  round  in  a  day  or  two," 
added  the  Attorney.  "  And  as  soon  as  you  are  physically 
able,  now,  you  can  leave  town,  with  the  coveted  papers  in 
your  pocket.  Your  invention  is  a  good  thing,  Mr  Hawes 
—  a  very  good  thing,"  concluded  Mr.  Shrood,  in  a  con 
gratulatory  tone. 

Ely  came  up,  with  rapid  strides,  after  this  friendly 
announcement.  And  within  three  weeks  he  was  out  of 
doors,  well  recovered. 

He  paid  Shrood  liberally,  discharged  all  his  bills,  and 
finally  left  Washington,  in  recuperated  condition  and 
excellent  spirits,  for  New  York  city,  where  he  had  written 
Frank  Meyers  and  appointed  to  meet  him,  on  the  way  to 
Boston. 

Ely  made  the  best  of  his  way  back  to  New  York,  in 
good  earnest.  On  arriving  there,  he  lost  no  time  in  look 
ing  up  his  friend  Meyers ;  and  reaching  his  lodgings,  he 
hurried  into  the  house. 

Taking  his  Patent  papers  from  his  breast-pocket  and* 
flourishing  the  documents  in  one  hand,  with  his  carpet 
bag  in  the  other,  he  approached  the  foot  of  the  second 
stairway,  and  cried  out,  joyously, 

"I  sa}^,  Frank  !  Where  are  you,  my  boy  ?  Come  down  ! 
I've  got  'em.  And  it's  all  right,  at  last !  " 

Meyers  received  Ely  enthusiastically,  and  congratulated 
his  friend  right  heartily  upon  his  assured  success  —  so  far. 

Ely  told  his  story  to  Frank  Meyers,  feelingly,  when 
they  sat  down  together,  and  the  two  old  friends  had  a 


192  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

grand  time  in  discussing  the  details  of  this  late  Washing 
ton  trip. 

"  Were  you  ever  there  ?  "  asked  Ely. 

"  No,"  said  Frank.  "  But  I  have  heard  a  good  deal  of 
the  Capitol.  It  must  be  a  nice  place." 

"  For  a  small  party,  yes,"  returned  Ely,  "  it  is.  When 
I  go  there  again,  it  will  be  —  " 

"  When  you  seek  other  Patent  papers,  I  suppose  ? " 
suggested  Frank. 

Mr.  Hawes  smiled. 

"  Now  it  is  all  over,  Frank,  I  don't  regret  it,"  he  con 
tinued.  "  But  if  you  ever  happen  to  require  a  similar 
service,  let  me  recommend  you  to  stay  at  home,  and 
employ  a  Patent  Office  Solicitor  to  do  your  work,  if  you 
can  raise  the  money  to  pay  him  for  the  luxury.  /  have 
had  enough,  in  my  experiment,  I  assure  you  !  " 

"  Well,  you  triumphed,  at  last,  Ely.  And  through 
your  own  determined  application  and  perseverance,  it 
would  seem." 

"  Yes,  I  have  labored  for  it,  and  I've  got  it,  Frank  — 
so  far.  Now,  I  am  going  to  work  to  make  my  hundred 
thousand  dollars  out  of  it." 

"  And  I  will  help  you,  Ely  —  every  time,"  returned 
Meyers,  cordially.  "  You  shall  come  to  New  York,  and 
together  we  will  make  your  fortune,  out  of  your  splen 
didly  contrived  Bank  lock." 

Ely  had  made  a  point,  finally.  He  had  obtained  his 
Patent  papers,  and  he  accepted  Meyers'  suggestions,  grate 
fully. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


193 


Thus  then  it  was  decided. 

And  by  and  by  we  shall  learn  what  came  of  this  re 
solve. 

Now  we  will  turn  to  the  history  of  our  friend  Reuben 
Downer,  the  printer ;  who,  like  the  rest  of  our  characters, 
had  his  aspirations,  and  his  eye  towards  a  fortune. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

HOW   REUBEN  DOWNER  MADE  AND  SAVED  IT. 

REUBEN  DOWNER  was  not  a  native  of  this  country. 
He  was  born  in  Ireland.  When  he  arrived  on  the  shores 
of  America,  he  was  thirteen  years  old. 

He  was  never  of  the  boastful  sort.  When  he  touched 
the  soil  of  his  adopted  land,  certes  he  could  not  have 
boasted  of  an  over-burthen  of  this  world's  goods  !  Under 
one  arm  he  carried  his  bundle  of  coarse  apparel,  and  in  his 
odd  shaped  hand-basket  he  had  a  change  of  underclothing, 
only.  He  soon  earned  an  outfit,  however,  and  comforta 
ble  shoes  to  his  feet. 

He  had  no  friends  in  America,  then,  but  he  was  stout- 
limbed  and  stout-hearted,  both.  His  health  was  robust, 
and  his  will  of  the  best.  He  looked  cheerfully  before 
him  —  though  his  prospect  was  none  of  the  most  encoura 
ging,  to  be  sure.  But  he  was  made  of  the  right  stuff,  he 
resolved  to  do  his  highest,  and  he  believed  that  honest 
industry  and  dutiful  vigilance  would  surely  bring  its 
reward  —  in  the  end. 

Of  all  the  representative  personages  introduced  to  our 

3D4 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  195 

readers  in  these  pages,  as  we  have  alieady  hinted  Reuben 
Downer  was  the  poorest  boy  of  our  chosen  characters ;  a 
printer's  apprentice,  in  one  of  the  New  England  States. 

He  had  experienced  a  hard  life  in  his  earliest  years,  but 
he  was  peculiarly  constituted,  and  took  the  rough  portion 
of  his  existence  with  graceful  resignation  to  what  Fate 
had  ordained  his  lot  in  life  to  be. 

He  was  conscientiously  scrupulous  in  all  his  dealings 
and  intercourse  with  those  with  whom  he  associated,  or 
came  in  contact,  and  from  his  earliest  years  he  proved  him 
self  thoroughly  reliable  and  trustworthy,  in  every  under 
taking  he  entered  upon. 

His  genius  was  remarkable  and  his  manliness  irreproach 
able.  But  poverty  followed  him  for  years,  and  he  found 
it  difficult  to  surmount  the  many  obstacles  that  continually 
seemed  to  crop  out  in  his  path,  until  he  reached  his  major 
ity,  in  years. 

Then  he  had  acquired  the  trade  of  a  printer,  only  — 
and  at  this  profession  he  was  able  to  gain  barely  a  decent 
respectable  livelihood,  like  thousands  of  others,  in  the 
routine  of  the  portionless  mechanic. 

He  had  declared  to  Frank  Meyers  and  his  companions 
that  he  would  one  day  be  rich.  How  this  desirable  object 
was  to  be  attained,  he  never  stated. 

"  But  I  shall  conquer  fortune,  sooner  or  later,  lads,"  he 
insisted.  "  You  talk  of  '  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  in 
gold,'  as  your  maximum.  This  is  a  very  respectable  sum 
to  aim  for.  If  I  ever  get  that  amount,  or  half  that  sum, 


196  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

I  will  make  it  five  times  a  hundred  thousand,  before  I 
make  it  less  than  one  hundred.  This  is  my  figure." 

Reuben  was  a  good  workman.  Tasteful,  swift,  correct, 
and  apt  as  a  compositor,  and  competent  at  last  in  any 
branch  of  the  trade  to  which  he  had  been  educated. 

His  duties  for  a  few  years  required  his  constant  employ 
ment  at  the  case.  But  occasionally  he  became  a  corres 
pondent  for  the  daily  journal  upon  which  he  was  for  a  long 
time  engaged  as  printer. 

During  the  latter  portion  of  John  Tyler's  administration 
in  the  Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Downer  went  from  New 
England  to  New  York  —  where  he  found  his  former  friend 
Frank  Meyers  flourishing. 

He  was  thoroughly  ambitious,  but  he  possessed  no  ready 
capital  to  launch  out  in  his  vocation,  upon  his  own 
account.  Besides  this,  though  he  felt  himself  competent 
to  the  management  of  such  a  business  as  a  weekly  or  a 
daily  paper,  (which  he  hoped  one  day  to  be  at  the  head 
of,)  the  competition  in  this  kind  of  enterprise  was  too 
great  for  him  to  risk  embarking  in  such  an  enterprise  with 
the  limited  funds  at  his  command. 

"  I  will  not  run  in  debt  for  any  thing,  at  all  events,"  he 
insisted.  "  I  will  earn  my  capital  first,  and  then  I  will  so 
place  it,  upon  opportunity,  that  it  will  give  me  what  I 
desire,  and  yield  me  a  goodly  return  in  the  end.  I  know 
what  I  want.  My  scheme  is  all  developed,  theoretically. 
I  can  win  a  fortune  with  it,  after  a  while  —  but  I  have 
no  means,  as  yet,  to  venture  upon  my  long-considered 
experiment." 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  197 

When  toiling  as  a  printer's  lad  in  the  New  England 
news-paper  office  where  he  began  his  career,  Reuben 
looked  forward  hopefully  to  future  advancement  in  some 
other  field  than  that  where  he  was  thus  plodding  along  so 
unpromisingly.  What  it  might  be,  he  had  then  no  clear 
idea.  Yet  from  his  very  youth,  he  felt  that  he  was  some 
day  bound  to  be  honorably  at  the  head  of  his  profession. 

He  toiled  early  and  late,  but  made  slow  progress.  Yet 
he  never  was  discouraged.  His  course  was  marked  out. 
He  placed  his  resolves  squarely  upon  principle  —  in  all  his 
undertakings,  small  or  great  —  from  his  youth  upward. 

Honest,  industrious,  enterprising,  talented,  sober  and 
persevering  in  his  purpose,  he  went  steadily  forward,  and 
always  established  the  rule  in  his  life,  to  pay  for  every 
thing  he  received,  as  he  went  along.  If  he  could  not  do 
this  —  however  much  his  need  or  fancy  craved  a  thing,  he 
would  deny  himself  the  possession  or  enjoyment  of  it.  He 
never  would  borrow  money,  but  always  earned  it.  He 
never  expended  money  that  was  not  his  own,  and  never 
accepted  a  loan  from  a  friend,  however  "  short "  he  might 
be,  temporarily. 

"  I  will  not  run  in  debt,"  he  declared,  "  whatever  I  do. 
Until  I  possess  the  means  to  accomplish  my  wishes,  01 
objects,  they  will  go  unattained.  When  I  have  the  cash 
in  hand,  I  will  buy  what  I  want,  and  pay  for  it.  Then  if 
I  lose  it,  it  is  my  loss,  and  not  another's  ;  and  I  can  go  to 
work  and  earn  more  —  as  I  did  the  other." 

His  tenacity  in  purpose  was  notable.     Once  he  made  up 


198        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

his  mind  in  any  particular  direction,  considerately,  he 
never  gave  up  the  pursuit  of  that  aim,  until  he  had  accom 
plished  his  wish.  And  in  all  the  plans  he  ever  so  under 
took,  he  never  failed  of  final  success. 

A  few  years  after  Reuben  Downer  went  to  New  York, 
having  connected  himself  with  a  good  printing  house  there, 
his  superior  talents  as  a  workman  were  recognized.  But 
he  received  only  indifferent  remuneration,  in  those  days, 
and  found  himself  compelled  to  "  sail  close  to  the  wind," 
to  meet  his  current  expenses. 

He  followed  up  his  habit  of  strict  economy,  however, 
and  kept  clear  of  debt  —  always  looking  forward  cheerful 
ly  and  hopefully  for  his  opportunity ;  which  he  felt  confi 
dent  would  some  day  open  up,  and  through  which  he 
would  be  able  to  launch  out  upon  4  a  free  course.' 

Fred  Gleason,  of  Boston,  the  originator  of  the  old  "  Flag 
of  our  Union "  newspaper,  had  taken  the  field  early  in 
this  sort  of  enterprise,  and  held  it  —  for  }rears  ;  out  of 
which  Tie  had  made  a  handsome  fortune.  M.  M.  Ballou 
succeeded  him,  and  made  another  in  this  same  establish 
ment,  which  he  finally  sold  to  his  successors  advanta 
geously. 

But  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  at  that  period,  controlled 
the  leading  literary  weekly  publications  of  this  character, 
and  Messrs.  Harpers  had  not  yet  started  their  now  popular 
periodical  publications. 

Reuben  saw  that  New  York  —  the  grand  centre  of 
American  commercial  enterprise  —  had  then  no  weekly 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  199 

paper  of  this  kind.  And  he  conceived  the  idea  of  putting 
upon  the  market,  for  universal  circulation,  a  new  weekly 
literary  journal,  in  a  miscellaneous  and  popular  style  ;  and 
quietly  but  earnestly  he  went  about  it,  as  soon  as  his  long- 
considered  plan  was  matured. 

He  consulted  with  Frank  Meyers  and  other  friends,  who 
thought  his  scheme  a  good  one.  But  he  had  little  money, 
and  his  contemplated  enterprise  could  not  be  carried  out 
successfully,  without  funds ! 

His  determination  not  to  run  in  debt  for  a  dollar's 
worth  of  material,  delayed  him,  but  he  kept  hard  at  work 
constantly,  at  type-setting,  saved  every  dime  he  could 
earn  and  spare  from  his  wages,  and  finally  had  a  moderate 
sum  to  venture  with,  in  his  new  undertaking. 

Reuben  had  the  advantage  of  experience  in  his  calling, 
and  his  taste  and  skill  as  a  printer  were  acknowledged. 
He  bought  out  a  small  commercial  sheet  that  had  had  a 
weakly  existence,  and  seating  himself  in  the  editorial 
chair,  he  changed  the  character  of  this  to  that  of  the  lit 
erary  paper  he  had  contemplated. 

His  plans  were  original.  He  resolved  upon  making 
the  "  Leader,"  as  he  called  his  new  paper,  the  first  of  its 
class  in  America,  as  it  was  the  first  —  in  fact  —  in  peculiar 
conception,  form,  style  and  conduct.  At  the  outset,  he 
printed  only  a  few  hundred  copies,  in  folio  form.  Then 
he  changed  it  to  a  quarto,  and  through  the  assistance  of  a 
thriving  news-publishing  house,  he  increased  its  circula 
tion,  rapidly. 


200  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

Then  Reuben  concluded  to  startle  the  reading  world 
with  a  novel  style  of  advertising  his  new  project.  This 
course  involved  considerable  outlay,  for  it  was  expensive. 
But  Reuben  was  doing  very  well.  His  "  Leader "  had 
begun  to  sell,  largely.  He  engaged  able  contributors,  and 
paid  them  liberally.  And  he  had  got  a  start. 

From  a  few  hundred,  or  thousands  circulation,  his  paper 
went  up  to  ten,  fifteen,  twenty  thousand  a  week.  Then 
he  went  into  the  columns  of  the  daily  press,  with  his 
famous  announcement  — "  John  Jones  writes  for  the 
Leader! "  "  John  Jones  writes  for  the  Leader ! !  "  "  John 
Jones  writes  for  the  Leader " ! ! !  repeated  a  thousand 
times  over,  in  a  single  line  each  of  displayed  type. 

Everybody  said  "  What  of  it  ?  "  "  What  does  Reuben 
mean  ?  "  "  Who  says  John  Jones  doesn't  write  for  the 
Leader  ?  "  "  What  nonsense  is  this  ?  " 

But  everybody  read  this  unique  style  of  announcement, 
and  all  the  world  and  his  wife  wanted  to  know  directly 
who  John  Jones  was,  who  Reuben  Downer  was,  what  the 
4  Leader '  was,  and  what  John  was  writing  about,  in  the 
Leader,  of  course. 

Then  came  another  column,  or  whole  page,  of  the 
daily  Herald  or  Tribune,  plastered  all  over  with  "  Read 
Fannie  Firm,  in  the  Leader!"  "Read  Fannie  Firm,  in 
the  Leader  ! !  "  "  Read  Fannie  Firm,  in  the  Leader ! !  I  " 
And  all  the  rest  of  the  world  and  mankind  generally 
rushed  for  the  "  Leader,"  to  learn  who  was  *  Fannie  Firm,' 
and  why  she  was  to  be  "  read  in  the  Leader,"  and  no 
where  else. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


201 


BUY    THE 

NY.  LEADER 


"  Reuben  Downer  is  on  the  high  road  to  fortune,"  cried 
the  multitude.  "  Reuben  Downer  is  going  to  the  dogs," 
muttered  the  croakers  —  who  didn't  see  why  this  late 
poor  printer  should  thus  flaunt  his  enterprise  in  the  teeth 
of  everybody,  whether  they  would  or  no ! 

The  astonished  pedestrian  as  he  went  up  and  down  the 
public  streets,  beheld  on  every  hand,  also,  the  mandatory 
queer  injunction  placard 
ed  upon  the  walls  and 
corners —  "  Buy  the  N.  Y. 
Leader  !  Buy  the  N.  Y. 
Leader!!"  And  they  /  BUY  THE 
queried  why  "  buy  the  v  ' ~3lJ 

Leader  f"     What  tg  this    ^^T 

[EXHIBI 

Leader  ? 

And  then  they  hunted 
up  the  dashing  spicy  new 
literary  weekly.  It  was 
a  success  —  and  a  grand 
one,  indeed. 

"  What  do  you  fill  up 
all  the  papers  in  town  with  your  nonsense  for,  Reuben  — 
in  this  way?"  asked  a  man,  one  day,  stopping  him  in 
Broadway,  and  criticising  his  new  style  of  declaring  that 
"  Everybody  reads  the  New  York  Leader  !  "  "  Everybody 
reads  the  New  York  Leader ! !  "  "  Everybody  reads  the 
New  York  Leader!!!" 

"  I  don't  read  these  advertisements,  anyhow." 


THE  ASTONISHED  PEDESTRIAN. 


202  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

u  Don't  you  ?  "  queried  Reuben.  "  How  did  you  hap 
pen  to  know  I  advertised  my  paper  thus,  then  ?  " 

Next  week,  all  the  dailies  were  occupied  with  a  single 
line  —  printed  over  and  over,  sixteen  hundred  times  in 
each.  "Buy  the  N.  Y.  Leader!"  "Buy  the  N.  Y. 
Leader ! !  "  "  Buy  the  N.  Y.  Leader ! !  I  " 

And  they  did  buy  it  —  with  a  rush,  to  be  sure,  as  the 
event  proved. 

All  this  cost  money.  Heaps  of  cash  —  for  Reuben 
would  never  get  trusted.  He  asked  no  accommodation. 
He  was  a  cash  man.  He  paid  as  he  went  along.  Hun 
dreds,  thousands  of  dollars  a  week,  for  months  and 
months,  for  advertising. 

Where  did  he  get  his  money  ? 

He  earned  it,  in  his  business.  His  sales  increased.  In 
a  few  months  his  circulation  ran  up  to  fifty,  sixty,  seventy- 
five  thousand  copies  a  week.  Then  he  advertised  again, 
and  paid  for  it,  roundly. 

Everybody  talked  about  Downer's  Leader.  Everybody 
bought  it.  Everybody  read  it.  Everybody  liked  it. 
And  within  a  couple  of  years,  Reuben  Downer  was  print 
ing  each  week  nearly  two  hundred  thousand  copies  of  his 
famous  new  literary  paper. 

But  he  didn't  halt,  now  ! 

He  went  right  on. 

He  sought  the  best  writers  in  the  land,  and  paid  them 
munificently  for  their  contributions.  He  could  afford  it. 
He  was  getting  rich,  while  he  did  this.  And  already  he 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  203 

had  more  than  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold  at  his 
command. 

Imitators  sprang  up  around  him.  His  style  of  adver 
tising,  his  form  of  publication,  his  mode  of  issuing  his 
paper  was  adopted. 

But  Reuben  secured  the  foremost  popular  writers  of  the 
day,  and  constantly  announced,  in  his  peculiar  way,  that 
44  Silas  Cobb  writes  only  for  the  Leader  "  !  44  Silas  Cobb 
writes  only  for  the  Leader !  ! "  44  Silas  Cobb  writes  only 
for  the  Leader  !  ! !  "  Or  44  Fannie  Firm  writes  only  for 
Leader ! "  44  Fannie  Firm  writes  only  for  Leader  !  !  " 
44  Fannie  Firm  writes  only  for  Leader  !  ! !  " 

And  within  another  year  his  weekly  *'  New  York 
Leader  "  had  reached  a  circulation  of  near  three  hundred 
thousand  copies  —  and  the  great  reading  public  of  the 
United  States  called  loudly  for  more  ! 

Downer  was  in  good  spirits,  now.  He  was  rolling  up 
his  thousands.  He  began  without  a  dollar.  But  he  had 
brains,  and  pluck,  and  sterling  energy  to  work  with. 

By  and  by  we  will  learn  what  became  of  Reuben,  and 
his  splendid  enterprise  —  the  44  New  York  Weekly 
Leader." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

HOW   DAVID   THE   DROVER   MADE   HIS   PILE. 

DAVID  MOREHEAD  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  among 
the  sturdy  farmers  and  cattle-dealers  of  that  ilk.  He  was 
raised  by  Deacon  Rounds  —  a  good  pious  solid  old-school 
man  —  who  had  himself  been  reared  also  among  the  hills 
of  the  Granite  State. 

This  boy  had  been  left  to  the  Deacon's  charge  upon  the 
death  of  a  near  relative,  and  at  twelve  years  old,  with  a 
meagre  common-school  education,  David  went  to  work 
upon  the  old  Rounds  place  —  where  horses,  cows  and 
sheep  were  largely  bred,  from  stock  among  the  best  that 
ever  went  into,  or  out  of  the  county  in  which  he  dwelt 
from  childhood. 

David  took  to  horse-flesh  more  kindly  than  towards  the 
cattle  kine  ;  like  most  boys,  in  their  teens,  who  fancy  the 
"  nobler  "  animal  naturally,  on  account  of  the  pleasure 
they  derive  in  taming,  driving,  and  riding  this  leading 
favorite  among  the  beast  creation. 

It  was  David's  fortune  however  to  be  placed  in  charge 
uf  the  oxen  and  sheep  upon  the  Deacon's  farm,  mostly,  for 

204 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT. 


205 


several  years  ;  and  he  came  to  be  accustomed  to  their  care 
and  management,  and  had  the  selling  of  the  stock,  as  it 
matured  or  was  fattened  for  market,  eventually. 

As  the  Deacon's  business  flourished  and  increased,  David 
was  sent  into  the  neighborhood  as  a  purchaser  —  for  he  got 
to  be  an  excellent  judge  of  the  merits  and  quality  of  live 
stock ;  and  so,  from  year  to  year, 
he  made  the  acquaintance  of  all 
the    breeders  and  dealers  in  the 
country  round,  of  whom  he  was 
a  heavy  buyer,  every  season,  at 
length  ;  the  Deacon  furnishing  the 
cash  means  to  carry  on  this  trade, 
for  his  own  exclusive  benefit. 

All  that  David  could  realize 
out  of  this  toil  and  traffic,  was  his 
day's  wages  and  actual  travelling 
expenses,  for  a  long  time.  Dea 
con  Rounds  was  a  very  honestly 
disposed  man,  but  he  was  avari 
cious,  and  parsimonious,  both. 

He  knew  that  David  had  no 
capital,  and  therefore  he  did  not  fear  competition,  in  that 
quarter,  even  after  the  boy  had  grown  to  manhood,  and 
become  his  own  legal  master.  So  he  continued  to  supply 
him  with  funds  to  purchase  for  his  (the  Deacon's)  account, 
and  contrived  to  pay  as  little  as  he  dared  to  offer  him  in 
the  way  of  remuneration,  for  so  competent,  faithful  and 


DAVID  —  THE  DROVER. 


206        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

shrewd  an  assistant  as  David  Morehead -proved  —  in  the 
end. 

David  was  limited  therefore  to  the  business  of  buying 
and  selling  neat  stock ;  and  he  went  up  and  down  the 
country,  in  all  directions,  in  quest  of  the  animals  desired 
over  and  above  those  that  could  be  economically  reared 
upon  the  Deacon's  premises. 

He  was  known  as  David,  the  Drover.  Far  and  near, 
his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond,  for  he  was  scrupulously 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  never  traded  with  a  man 
in  such  a  way  that  he  could  not  meet  him  a  second  time, 
and  trade  again,  if  occasion  called  for  it. 

After  he  passed  his  majority,  David  was  anxious  to 
strike  out  for  himself.  But  in  that  country  a  man's  earn 
ings  under  such  a  close-fisted  patron  as  was  Deacon 
Rounds,  gave  the  employe*  small  chance  to  lay  aside 
money,  to  any  extent.  And,  in  this  respect,  David  More- 
head  was  no  exception  to  the  general  rule. 

Still,  he  had  saved  a  little,  and  in  the  later  two  or  three 
years  of  his  life  he  had  added  to  his  small  means  a  few 
hundred  dollars.  He  then  informed  his  sharp  old  master 
that  he  had  determined  to  go  on  the  road  upon  his  own 
account. 

The  life  of  the^  drover  can  hardly  be  said  to  be  a  merry 
existence  ! 

On  the  contrary,  it  may  safely  be  chronicled  as  a  pur 
suit  of  toil  and  sweat  and  dust  and  discomfort  —  in  the 
main. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  207 

Yet  in  northern  New  England  this  pursuit  has  for  many 
years  proved  highly  profitable,  and  thousands  are  engaged 
in  the  work. of  producing  the  multitude  of  horses,  the 
herds  of  cattle,  and  the  flocks  of  sheep  that  furnish*  the 
eastern  markets  with  their  best  live  stock  of  either  kind  — 
for  pleasure,  work,  food,  or  clothing. 

David  Morehead  had  come  to  have  "  an  eye  for  busi 
ness,"  towards  his  own  individual  emolument. 

He  had  served  a  long  apprenticeship  at  the  trade,  and 
thus  far  Deacon  Rounds  had  had  by  far  the  best  of  the 
bargain  that  had  gone  oh  between  them  for  so  many  years. 

David  had  been  confidentially  talking  latterly  with  an 
infirm  old  man  he  had  chanced  upon,  away  down  on  the 
Connecticut  River  —  in  the  course  of  his  repeated  wander 
ings  —  who  had  a  dilapidated  estate  on  his  hands  which 
bothered  him  to  pay  the  taxes  on,  of  late  years. 

"  Buy  me  out,  David,"  said  Grimes,  earnestly.  "  You 
ken  run  the  ole  place,  an'  make  yer  forten  outen  it. 
Ther's  tew  hunder'd  acres,  a'most.  An'  ef  yer'll  stock 
it  with  cattil  an'  bosses,  yer  ken  make  a  heap  o'  money, 
wi'  yeur  'sperience,  an'  grit.  I  can't.  I'm  play'd  out. 
An'  wot  wi'  the  roomatiz  an'  the  taxes  together,  I'm  dead 
beat  wi'  it.  Come  —  wot  d'yer  say  ?  " 

"  I  haint  no  money  to  speak  of,"  returned  David. 

"  Don't  want  much,  Dave." 

"  It  'ud  take  money  to  stock  it  rightly,  Grimes." 

"  Begin  small,  then,  Dave." 

"  I  should  hev  to  —  that's  a  fact ! "  returned  David, 
reflectively. 


208        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  Well  —  take  it.  Gimme  an  'greement  ter  take  keer 
o'  me  an'  my  old  woman's  long  as  we  live,  an'  yer  ken 
come  yere,  an'  do  wot  yer  like  wi'  the  place.  We  haint 
no  children,  yer  know,  an'  yer  ken  jess  hev'  it  all  yer  own 
way,  Dave.  Ther's  parsturin'  enough  to  keep  a  hunder'd 
head  o'  cattle  an'  colts  an'  sheep  —  an'  yer  kin  make 
money  outen  it,  I  tell  ye,  sure'syer  alive." 

A  bargain  was  struck. 

David  bought  the  place,  for  a  few  dollars,  (to  make  a 
legal  money  consideration  in  the  deed,)  and  agreed  to  keep 
old  Grimes  and  his  older  wife  so  long  as  they  lived,  with 
out  charge,  as  a  further  valid  consideration. 

"  In  the  course  o'  human  events,"  said  Grimes,  mourn 
fully,  "  we  two  ole  folk  can't  live  many  years.  It'll  come 
to  yer,  David,  cheap.  But  it  ain't  o'  no  use  to  ws,  'thout 
somebody  takes  it,  an'  looks  arter  us." 

The  New  Hampshire  drover  went  home  again,  dreaming 
of  his  new  prospects.  He  made  up  his  mind  to  quit 
Deacon  Rounds  —  and  told  him  so.  The  Deacon  de 
murred,  for  he  knew  David's  value.  But  the  latter  had 
resolved,  and  he  said  "  I've  sarved  you  a  good  many  year, 
an'  I'm  bound  to  go  it  alone,  now.  I  want  to  make  a 
little  money,  like  the  rest  o'  folk  —  an'  you  know  how  it 
is,  yourself,  Deacon,"  insisted  David.  And  so  he  shortly 
left  his  old  quarters,  and  began  life  in  earnest  upon  his 
own  account. 

David  took  possession  of  the  wasted  Grimes  farm,  and 
put  a  score  of  cattle  upon  it,  a  few  months  afterwards. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  209 

Then  he  bought  and  traded  for  half  a  dozen  Morgan  colts. 
He  owned  three  or  four  old  brood  mares,  and,  with  twenty 
or  thirty  sheep,  he  began  to  raise  stock  on  his  own  prem 
ises. 

Within  two  years  old  Grimes  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  his 
wife  soon  followed  her  played-out  lord  and  master,  to 
another  and  a  better  world. 

David  Morehead  became  the  proprietor  of  a  fair  pasture 
farm,  in  consequence  —  and  he  fenced  it,  manured  it, 
began  to  cultivate  it,  and  went  on  improving  his  place  and 
his  prospects. 

But  he  did  not  leave  the  business  of  the  road.  He  had 
become  so  accustomed  to  the  life  of  the  drover,  that  he 
couldn't  give  up  the  habit  of  going  abroad  every  week,  to 
buy  and  sell  and  dicker  for  live  stock.  Thus  he  made 
money,  surely,  but  not  rapidly,  while  he  hired  a  good  hand 
or  two  to  look  after  the  land  and  stables,  the  flocks  and 
herds  and  studs  at  home. 

In  the  pasturing  season  too,  he  boarded  horses  and 
mares  for  gentlemen  who  knew  him,  and  who  were  glad 
to  have  their  breeding  or  fancy  animals  in  such  good 
hands,  upon  occasion,  when  they  were  away  from  their 
estates  or  town  residences,  of  ten 'months  at  a  time,  every 
year. 

This  paid  David  well  —  and  he  had  ample  room  thus  to 
accommodate  a  goodly  number  of  animals,  not  his  own. 

He  saved  his  money,  too.  Deacon  Rounds  had  taught 
him  the  value  of  it.  And  he  did  not  forget  that  "  a  dollar 


210        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

was  one  hundred  cents,  that  ten  dollars  were  a  hundred 
dimes,  and  a  hundred  dollars  were  four  hundred  good 
round  quarters  —  every  time." 

David  boasted  that  he  knew  thus  much  of  financial 
science,  and  allowed  that  Deacon  Rounds  had  taught  him 
this,  from  the  start. 

Then  David  got  married. 

He  found  that  he  needed  a  wife  to  look  after  his  house 
hold  affairs,  and  see  to  things  in  his  absence  from  the 
place. 

His  courtship  was  brief  but  business-like.  He  met 
Polly  White  at  a  huskings  one  day,  and  found  her  "  a 
nice  good  girl  —  capable,  healthy,  and  willin',"  he  said. 

Three  months  afterwards,  they  were  wedded.  He  knew 
her  family,  previous^,  and  Polly's  father  was  aware  that 
David  was  a  clever,  thrifty,  honest  young  man,  who  would 
make  his  daughter  a  good  husband. 

The  old  Grimes  house  was  not  a  large  one,  er  in  very 
presentable  condition  when  David  became  the  owner  of 
the  farm.  But  he  fixed  it  up,  by  degrees,  and  when  he 
took  Polly  home  there  as  his  wife,  the  premises  had  been 
greatly  improved,  and  comfortably  furnished. 

She  was  content,  and  they  lived  very  cosily  and  happily 
together ;  for  Polly  had  been  well  brought  up,  and  was 
just  the  woman  for  such  a  man  as  she  had  united  her 
humble  fortune  with. 

It  was  three  years  after  he  married,  when  he  was 
Qourishing  nicely  in  his  business,  (which  had  by  this  time 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  211 

become  very  considerable,  and  was  constantly  increasing) 
that  David  pushed  his  way  down  to  Brandville,  five-and- 
forty  miles  below  his  own  farm,  on  the  Connecticut  River. 

He  had  a  pair  of  very  promising  black  Morgan  colts  he 
had  raised,  which  he  wished  to  dispose  of  —  but  for  which 
he  had  not  as  yet  been  able  to  find  an  appreciative  cus 
tomer,  in  his  own  neighborhood. 

David  knew  what  a  horse  was.  But  he  hadn't  got  his 
ideas  up  to  the  best  market  value  of  such  a  pair  as  these 
splendid  colts  were,  yet. 

His  estimated  price  was  six  hundred  dollars,  or  there 
abouts,  for  the  span  —  and  they  were  beautiful  animals. 
But,  at  this  period,  three  hundred  dollars  for  a  five-year- 
old  colt,  was  a  very  goodly  figure,  as  everybody  knew. 

For  Morgan  horses,  these  were  full-sized.  And  they 
were  perfectly  matched.  They  had  been  carefully  broken 
to  harness,  and  were  speedy.  One  of  them  was  faster 
than  his  mate,  but  upon  the  road  they  could  trot  to  the 
pole  in  about  three  minutes,  together.  And  they  had 
never  been  trained,  at  all.  This  branch  of  the  business  of 
the  horse-man,  David  knew  nothing  about.  But  he  knew 
he  had  a  lively  pair  of  colts,  and  he  took  pride  in  showing 
off  his  handsome  steppers,  whenever  the  opportunity 
presented. 

Now,  however,  he  desired  to  sell.  And  he  intended  to 
go  back  to  Polly  without  the  black  colts,  but  with  six 
hundred  clean  hard  dollars,  at  the  least,  instead. 

He  chanced  to  fall  in  with  Morris  Deans  —  at  old  Far- 


212  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

mer  Blount's  place  —  upon  halting  at  Brand  ville,  on  his 
way  to  Springfield ;  if  it  turned  out  that  he  did  not  meet 
with  a  customer  for  his  colts  previously. 

Morris  had  by  this  time  got  to  be  pretty  well  up  in  the 
science  of  horse-flesh.  He  had  been  at  Sunnyside  almost 
five  years.  And  he  knew  that  such  a  pair  of  blooded  colts 
as  this  New  Hampshire  man  had  brought  down  for  a  mar 
ket,  were  "  worth  a  farm,"  almost,  in  his  hands.  He  liked 
them.  And  he  didn't  hesitate  to  say  this  to  David  —  who 
at  once  pricked  up  his  ears  ! 

44  Are  they  speedy  ?  "  asked  Morris,  looking  the  high- 
headed  Morgans  carefully  over. 

44 1  reck'n  they're  fair,"  said  David.  "  I  never  druv' 
'em  separate,  much.  But  I  cal'late  they're  good  steppers, 
and  stylish." 

"Not  fast,  then?" 

"  Wai  —  I  don't  know  what  you  call  faast,  hereaways. 
But  they  can  foot  a  mile  'n  three  minits,  easy  enough." 

"Together?" 

"  Side  an'  side,  any  day." 

44  What  do  you  ask  for  them  ?  "  queried  Morris,  indiffer 
ently. 

44  Wai,  I  want  to  get  a  thousan'  dollars  for  the  tew," 
said  David,  coolly. 

Morris  said — "  no.  I  don't  want  them.  You  can 
travel,  David." 

David  took  up  the  lines,  jogged  down  the  road  half  a 
mile,  and  came  spinning  back  again,  up  past  the  Blount 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  213 

farm,  at  a  tearing  gait  —  and  away  to  the  Brandville  tav 
ern  stables,  saying  quietly  to  himself,  "  I've  found  a  cus 
tomer  for  the  colts." 

Morris  watched  the  movements,  and  went  over  to  the 
country  tavern,  where  David  said  he  had  concluded  to 
tarry  over  night. 

In  the  morning  he  took  his  ponies  out,  to  show  them. 
Morris  was  delighted  with  them.  They  were  really 
a  very  fine  pair. 

44 1  will  take  them,"  said  Morris,  after  seeing  their  per 
formance,  in  the  morning. 

44  Wai,"  returned  David  shrewdly,  "  I've  concluded  I 
ken  do  better  down  at  Springfield.  They're  good  'uns. 
But  I'll  take  fifteen  hunder'd  dollars  for  'em." 

"  You  named  a  thousand  yesterday,  David,"  said  Morris. 

"  So  I  did.  An'  you  said  '  No.  You  ken  travel, 
David.'  Didn't  you  ?  " 

"Yes—" 

"  An'  I  travelled,  Morris." 

"  Now  you  want  fifteen  hundred  ?  " 

"  Exackly,"  returned  David. 

"  Well.     I  hope  you  may  get  it,  then." 

44 1  shall,  Morris  —  or  I'll  take  'em  down  to  Springfield." 

44  Go  ahead.  Horses  have  riz,  I  guess,  up  in  New 
Hampshire,  David !  " 

Morris  went  back  to  the  farm.  He  wanted  that  pair  of 
Morgan  colts.  He  knew  where  he  could  place  them,  after 
a  while,  to  advantage.  But  he  left  David  alone,  for  the 
day. 


214  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

Towards  night,  the  shrewd  drover  harnessed  up  his 
beautiful  team  and  drove  down  past  Sunnyside  farm  again. 
Morris  saw  him,  and  hailed  him. 

u  Which  way,  David  ?  " 

"  Springfield,"  said  Dave,  hauling  up. 

"  You'd  better  let  me  have  the  colts,  David." 

"  I  will,  Morris." 

"  At  what  price  ?  " 

"Wai,  I  don't  mind,  now  —  if  you  want  'era,  an'  I 
reck'n  you  do,  Morris — I  don't  mind  a  tradin'.  You 
know  what  a  good  pair  o'  Morgan  colts  is.  An'  if  you 
want  to  put  out  sixteen  hunder'd  dollars  on  'em,  they're 
yours,  an'  it's  a  barg'in." 

"  Sixteen  hundred  !  " 

"  That's  what  I  said,  Morris." 

"  You're  risin',  every  time  you  speak  about  'em !  " 

•"  Two  thousand  I'll  ask  for  'em,  in  Springfield,  Morris." 

"  What  is  the  lowest  sum  you'll  sell  them  for?  " 

"  Sixteen  hunder'd  dollars,  now" 

Morris  threw  open  the  wide  farm-gate. 

"  Drive  'em  in,  David,"  he  said.  "  They're  mine. 
You  can't  raise  on  me,  again,  at  all  events." 

"  All  right,"  returned  David,  complacently.  "  They're 
good  'uns." 

The  splendid  black  Morgan  ponies  were  driven  into  old 
Blount's  stable,  forthwith. 

And  that  night  David  returned  to  Polly,  with  sixteen 
hundred  good  dollars,  for  his  fancy  colts. 


HOW  TO    MAKE    IT.  215 

"  Good-by,  Morris,"  said  the  New  Hampshire  drover. 

"  Good-by,  David.     Come  again." 

"  I  will,  Morris." 

"When  you  have  a  better  pair  o'  colts  than  these,  bring 
them  to  Sunnyside  farm." 

"  I'm  satisfied,  Morris.  I  know  what  you  will  do  with 
'em.  You'll  double  your  money  on  'em !  That's  what 
you'll  do." 

"  Mayhap  I  will,"  said  Morris,  smiling.  "  But  you've 
got  a  good  price  for  them,  any  way." 

"  Yas.  An'  now  I  think  of  it,  ther's  old  Winkham,  up 
above  me,  to  home,  has  got  a  comin'  six-year-old  geldin' 
that'll  travel  like  a  rein-deer.  Do  you  want  a  fast  'un, 
Morris  ?  " 

"  Bring  him  down.     I'll  look  at  him,"  returned  Morris. 

"  I  will — some  day.     Good-by,  Morris." 

And  with  this,  the  two  sharp  cattle-dealers  separated, 
mutually  gratified  with  their  trade. 


OLD  AVIXKHAM'S  TKOTTEB. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

STORY   OF    "  SPOT,"   FARMER   BLOUNT'S    FAMOUS   DOG. 

AMONG  the  attractive  denizens  that  Morris  found  at 
Sunnyside,  was  a  splendid  animal  of  the  canine  tribe, 
about  four  years  old  when  the  broker-lad  went  upon  the 
Connecticut  River  farm  —  to  which  he  became  very 
strongly  attached,  and  which  in  turn  took  a  great  liking 
to  Morris,  from  the  start. 

This  was  farmer  Blount's  noble  Newfoundland  dog 
*'  Spot,"  a  large  black  and  white  silky-coated  fellow, 
curiously  marked,  for  one  of  this  species,  arid  thus  named 
on  account  of  the  numerous  patches  or  spots  that  were 
scattered  over  his  handsome  great  body,  in  clean  relief. 

"  Spot "  had  been  at  the  farm  about  a  year  when  Morris 
entered  old  Blount's  employ. 

"  He's  a  noble  dog,"  said  the  young  man  to  Eunice  one 
day,  when  she  was  amusing  herself  upon  the  lawn  in  front 
of  the  house  with  this  intelligent  and  comely  animal. 

"  He  is,  indeed,"  returned  Miss  Eunice,  pleasantly. 
"  He  knows  as  much  as  a  human  being  too,  about  many 
things." 

216 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


217 


"  He's  a  splendid  fellow,  Miss  Eunice.     Where  did 
get  him?" 

"  Oh,  Spot  has  a  most  romantic  history,  indeed,"  replied 
Blourit's  daughter.  And  then  she  narrated  the  following 
account  of  this  sagacious  beast's  previous  prowess,  and 
told  how  he  came  to  be  a  resident  at  Sunnyside  farm. 


PORTRAIT  OF  "SPOT,"  FROM  LIFE. 

"  Spot "  was  a  foreigner,  not  a  native  of  this  land.  He 
was  met  with  by  old  Blount,  accidentally  —  when  he  was 
about  three  years  old  —  and  he,  learning  his  singular  his 
tory,  made  a  handsome  offer  to  the  man  who  had  him  in 
possession  at  the  time,  and  brought  him  to  his  farm  ; 
where  a  hundred  times  his  cost  could  not  have  subse 
quently  purchased  the  brave  creature,  whose  record  was 
as  follows. 


218        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Upon  the  outer  point  of  a  sharp  promontory  extending 
seaward  from  the  New  England  shore,  there  stands  an 
old  Light-house  —  one  of  the  earliest  structures  of  its 
kind  erected  by  the  United  States  Government. 

A  former  Keeper  of  this  Light,  named  Bazin,  had  had  for 
a  year  or  two  a  magnificent  great  dog,  that  came  into  his 
possession  under  the  following  peculiar  circumstances,  just 
after  the  occurrence  of  one  of  those  terrible  catastrophes 
that  happened  occasionally  in  his  long  experience,  upon 
the  dangerous  reef  near  which  his  beacon-house  stood. 

One  of  those  driving  storms,  so  common  on  that  coast 
at  certain  seasons,  had  raged  two  days,  when  Bazin's 
daughter,  Alice  —  a  stout-framed,  brave  hearted  girl  of 
twenty,  and  a  worthy  helper  to  her  father —  who  had 
been  upon  the  watch  in  the  upper  light  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  night,  (as  was  her  custom,  alternately  with 
the  old  man,  in  bad  weather,)  suddenly  summoned  her 
parent  from  his  bed,  with  the  alarm  that  a  vessel  of  some 
kind  had  just  struck  on  the  rocks  above  the  Lighthouse, 
amidst  the  fierce  gale. 

The  daughter  had  also  heard  an  unusual  moaning  at  the 
base  of  the  Lighthouse,  but  amidst  the  hurricane  and 
darkness  she  could  not  make  out  what  it  was.  As  soon 
as  she  had  roused  her  father,  she  hastily  donned  her  rough- 
weather  suit,  and  with  a  lantern  sought  for  the  cause  of 
this  strange  sound,  that  still  wailed  out  on  the  night  wind. 
And  very  shortly  she  was  startled  to  behold  a  huge  black 
and  white  dog — that  was  mournfully  howling  beneath  the 
lower  windows  of  the  Lighthouse. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  219 

Alice  spoke  to  the  great  beast  kindly,  though  at  first 
she  was  not  a  little  frightened,  to  see  this  extraordinary 
apparition  in  that  out-of-the-way  place.  But  she  quickly 
recovered  herself,  for  the  docile  manners  of  the  dog  assured 
her  that  he  meant  her  no  harm,  but  came  there  in  search 
of  help  ! 

He  whined  nervously  and  ran  out  in  front  of  her,  when 
he  saw  her  lantern ;  then  turned,  started  off  again,  barked 
loudly,  and  strove  to  say  "  Come  on,  Miss.  This  way  I  " 
as  he  moved  forward,  heading  towards  the  wreck.  The 
girl  fancied  she  understood  the  dumb  brute,  and  followed 
him,  lantern  in  hand,  (as  soon  as  her  father  came  out) 
away  to  the  inner  shore  of  the  ledge. 

The  wrecked  vessel  proved  to  be  a  brig,  whose  masts 
were  gone,  which  had  been  driven  stern  on  against  the 
bowlders  —  where  she  was  dashed  to  pieces,  before  the 
storm  subsided. 

In  a  few  minutes,  the  Lightkeeper  and  his  daughter, 
preceded  by  the  dog,  reached  the  rough  beach ;  when  the 
animal  led  them  directly  to  a  spot  where  lay  two  bodies  — 
those  of  a  woman,  and  a  child  some  three  years  old.  Alice 
took  up  the  little  boy,  the  father  raised  the  woman,  and 
though  they  were  insensible  and  shockingly  bruised,  they 
were  hurriedly  borne  into  the  hospitable  Lighthouse  living- 
room  ;  the  dog  voluntarily  taking  up  the  lantern  in  his 
teeth,  as  they  went,  and  exhibiting  great  satisfaction  at 
the  rescue  of  his  friends. 

The  little  boy  died,  however,  before  daybreak,  and  the 


220  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

mother  survived  him  but  a  few  hours.  She  gave  but 
slight  information  touching  the  disaster,  for  she  was  fatally 
hurt,  among  the  sharp  rocks,  before  she  and  her  boy 
reached  the  shore. 

Yet  she  stated,  incoherently,  that  the  vessel  lost  her 
masts  at  sea,  was  afterwards  thrown  on  the  rocks,  the 
passengers  and  crew  were  washed  overboard,  and  she  with 
her  baby  had  been  dragged  on  shore  by  their  dog.  This 
was  all  —  and  she  died  next  day,  at  noon,  without  further 
exhibition  of  consciousness. 

The  name  of  this  woman  or  of  the  brig  was  never 
learned.  The  two  bodies  were  buried  in  one  grave,  and 
Bazin  coaxed  the  big  dog  to  remain  at  the  Lighthouse. 
He  named  him  "  Spot."  And  he  subsequently  became 
famous  as  a  valued  assistant  there,  in  saving  life  and 
property,  for  a  year  or  more. 

The  dog  did  not  escape  severe  hurts  during  this  acci 
dent.  He  was  lame  for  two  or  three  weeks,  but  being  in 
robust  health,  otherwise,  he  soon  recuperated.  He  was 
then  about  two  years  old,  inordinately  fond  of  the  water, 
and  was  a  powerful  swimmer.  The  old  Lightkeeper  and 
Alice  both  availed  themselves  of  his  good  qualities  in  this 
respect,  and  the  evidence  he  had  given  in  this  instance  of 
his  courage  and  sagacity,  induced  them  to  believe  that 
upon  similar  occasions  of  distress  he  would  prove  valuable 
in  the  frequently  dangerous  routine  of  their  hard  life. 

So  they  encouraged  Spot's  fondness  for  the  water,  and 
soon  found  that  he  was  intelligent,  willing,  and  fearless 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  221 

amid  the  dangers  of  the  sea,  as  well  as  very  expert  in  his 
performances.  And  thenceforward  he  became  their  con 
stant  companion,  whenever  they  ventured  out  in  their 
boat  to  assist  the  perilled  mariners,  along  the  shore  near 
the  Lighthouse. 

During  the  succeeding  year,  he  had  aided  in  saving 
several  lives  from  wrecks ;  and,  through  his  own  individ 
ual  exertions,  he  had  rescued  two  persons,  in  that  time, 
from  drowning. 

Early  one  morning  in  midsummer,  a  bark  from  Hali 
fax,  for  Boston,  was  discovered  by  Bazin  befogged  in  the 
offing,  after  a  sharp  gale  that  had  occurred  on  the  previous 
day.  The  sea  still  rolled  heavily  inland,  beyond  the  Light 
house,  but  the  fog  was  so  dense  that  the  bark  could  be 
caught  sight  of  only  at  intervals  —  when,  from  her  drift 
ing,  she  appeared  to  be  rudderless,  or  unmanageable.  She 
was  nearing  the  rocky  shore  rapidly,  with  a  tattered  fore- 
topsail  only  in  sight,  and  Bazin  quickly  took  the  alarm. 

He  started  the  big  horn,  while  Alice  tugged  away  at 
the  fog-bell,  and  Spot  (who  had  been  so  taught)  set  up  a 
fearful  barking,  by  way  of  warning.  But  upon  the  lifting 
of  the  thick  mist,  the  vessel  was  discovered  close  in 
shore ;  and  very  soon  she  struck  the  fatal  rock-bar, 
broached  to,  and  lay  a  helpless  wreck,  upon  the  outer 
reef. 

Bazin  sprang  into  his  dory,  Alice  seized  an  oar,  as  was 
her  habit  —  for  she  had  long  been  inured  to  this  exercise 
—  Spot  jumped  up  on  the  bow,  standing  with  his  eyes 


222  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

glistening  seaward,  eagerly  looking  out  for  what  might 
turn  up  next,  and  in  a  few  minutes  this  earnest  trio  were 
within  hail  of  the  crippled  craft  —  over  the  side  of  which, 
upon  a  rudely-made  raft  of  spars,  eight  or  nine  men  and 
women  were  hurrying  into  the  foamy  sea,  from  the  sink 
ing  bark. 

The  flood-tide  was  setting  strongly  in,  shoreward.  The 
vessel's  boats  had  been  stove,  her  main-mast  was  split,  and 
more  than  half  the  crew  had  previously  been  washed  over 
board,  by  the  heavy  seas  she  had  shipped  during  the  storm. 
And  now  the  Captain,  his  wife,  the  stewardess,  and  half  a 
dozen  sailors  were  fleeing  upon  this  raft ;  hoping  to  reach 
the  land,  which  they  had  no  idea,  until  the  vessel  struck, 
was  so  near  them. 

Bazin  discovered  the  raft,  a  moment  after  it  was  set  free 
with  its  human  freight,  and  he  at  once  fell  in  its  wake, 
though  the  sea  ran  very  high.  But  he  doubted  if  it  would 
hold  together,  to  the  shore.  On  a  sudden,  a  sweeping 
wave  struck  it,  turned  it  almost  over,  and  washed  the 
nine  men  and  women  into  the  riotous  waters.  The  dog 
saw  all  this,  and  in  an  instant  he  was  overboard,  battling 
with  the  plunging  waves. 

Bazin  and  Alice  pulled  away  sharply,  and  picked  up  the 
Captain  and  second  officer  —  one  of  whom  seized  Alise's 
oar,  and  relieved  her  —  when  two  other  men  were  caught, 
and  saved  in  the  boat. 

Of  the  other  five,  Spot  had  the  dress  of  one  of  the 
women  in  his  stout  teeth,  tugging  shoreward,  while  Alice, 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  225 

from  the  boat's  prow,  grasped  the  other  female's  skirt,  and 
she  was  drawn  in ;  while  the  remaining  three  men  were 
lost  sight  of. 

The  dog  struggled  on,  supporting  the  Captain's  wife 
until  he  got  her  into  shoal  water,  and  the  rolling  breakers 
that  combed  in  along  the  cove  threw  woman  and  dog  up 
to  the  shore.  But  Spot  hung  firmly  to  his  half-drowned 
prize,  and  never  let  go  his  hold,  until  he  had  her  safe  on 
dry  land,  out  of  danger. 

Then,  away  he  went  again  !  For  he  had  seen  the  three 
men  struggling  for  their  lives.  And  mounting  the  great 
wave-crests  as  if  his  ample  skin  had  been  inflated,  he 
floundered  outward,  bound  to  afford  the  jeopardized  sailors 
help,  if  he  could.  In  these  exciting  scenes,  Spot  seemed 
to  take  the  keenest  delight,  and  he  shortly  had  the  satis 
faction  of  finding  another  subject  for  his  prowess  ;  for  the 
body  of  a  child  was  being  hove  about  in  the  sea,  there. 
And  seizing  the  loose  jacket  of  this  boy,  the  dog  soon  had 
his  head  out  of  the  water. 

It  was  the  Captain's  only  son,  five  years  old.  Spot  put 
away  landward,  once  more,  and  clung  to  the  lad's  shoulder 
until  they  landed,  in  safety  —  though  the  boy  knew  noth 
ing  of  his  preserver's  achievement,  until  five  hours  after 
he  was  thus  saved  from  drowning. 

Both  the  Captain's  wife  and  this  boy  remained  uncon 
scious,  a  long  time  after  their  fearful  drenching  and  fright. 
Spot  smelt  at  their  faces,  licked  their  hands,  set  up  a  howl 
of  alarm,  and  then  rushed  away  to  the  old  Lighthouse  — 


226        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

where  the  boat  had  already  landed,  with  the  other  rescued 
persons. 

The  dog  quickly  made  old  Bazin  and  Alice  understand 
that  there  were  others  yet  to  be  looked  after,  and  the 
Captain  —  who  was  in  great  distress  at  the  supposed  loss 
of  wife  and  son  —  at  once  joined  the  Lightkeeper  and  his 
daughter,  who  followed  the  dog's  lead  to  the  shore,  where 
the  agonized  husband  and  father  found  his  wife  and  boy' 
in  season  to  restore  them  to  life,  after  the  trying  scene 
through  which  he  and  they  had  just  passed. 

The  two  unconscious  sufferers  were  taken  to  the  hos 
pitable  dwelling  of  Bazin,  and  thus  seven  of  the  nine 
wrecked  unfortunates  were  in  this  case  saved  from  death. 

Farmer  Blount  had  business  one  day  which  called  him 
over  to  Cape  Ann,  and  he  visited  the  Lighthouse,  while  he 
was  there,  out  of  curiosity.  He  encountered  Spot  at  the 
door  of  the  Light,  and  while  he  was  being  shown  about 
the  isolated  premises  by  the  Keeper,  he  noticed  this  hand 
some  animal  and  took  a  fancy  to  him. 

Miss  Alice  told  Blount  the  dog's  history,  and  the  far 
mer  at  once  made  the  old  Lightkeeper  a  liberal  offer  for 
the  animal.  The  man  was  poor,  and  a  hundred  dollars  to 
him  —  all  at  once  —  looked  like  a  great  pile  of  money. 

"I  can't  afford  to  keep  no  hunder'd-dollar  dog  'ere," 
said  the  light-keeper,  frankly.  "  The  government  pays 
me  forty-five  dollars  a  month,  for  doin'  my  duty  'ere. 
An'  with  three  mouths  to  feed,  an'  the  clo'es  we  wear  out 
in  a  twel'-month,  this  don't  leave  us  much,  fer  Chris' mas 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  227 

gifts,  at  the  e'end  o'  the  year,  sir.  I  hate  to  part  wi' 
Spot,  that's  a  fact.  But  if  he's  wuth  any  hunder'd  dollars 
to  yeu,  he  ain't  to  me.  An'  yeu  ken  take  him  sir,  an' 
very  much  obleeg'd  to  yer,  fer  yer  offer." 

The  Lightkeeper  took  Spot  over  to  the  rail-station,  old 
Blount  paid  him  down  a  hundred  dollars,  and  the  dog  was 
taken  safely  to  Sunny  side  —  where  he  became  an  immense 
favorite,  in  after  years. 

"  He's  a  good  dog,"  said  Morris,  after  hearing  this 
record.  "  Spot  and  I  have  been  excellent  friends  from 
our  first  acquaintance." 

"  So  he  is,  indeed,"  insisted  Miss  Eunice.  "  And  we 
think  the  world  of  him.  There  is  no  animal  upon  this 
farm  that  father  Blount,  or  any  of  us,  would  not  sooner 
part  with,  than  beautiful,  gentle,  intelligent '  Spot.' ' 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

MORRIS   AND   DAVID   MAKE   A   MUTUAL   GOOD   TRADE. 

AFTER  David  Morehead  returned  home  with  his  sixteen 
hundred  dollars,  which  he  had  rather  unexpectedly  re 
ceived  for  his  pair  of  poqies,  he  went  forward  easily  and 
steadily.  He  made  his  money  occasionally  by  a  fortunate 
horse-trade,  in  this  way,  but  more  largely  by  raising  good 
cattle  and  sheep  in  numbers. 

The  grocer  who  had  lighted  upon  the  young  tramp  in 
the  sugar-hogshead,  (see  chapter  xxv.)  obtained  for  little 
Jerry  Burt  a  situation  with  a  farmer  not  far  from  Blount's 
place,  and  the  boy  had  gone  to  work  there  some  months 
previously,  under  promising  auspices. 

Before  David  had  been  upon  the  worn-out  Grimes  farm 
five  years  he  had  brought  it  under  good  tilth,  and  had 
a  stock  of  Shorthorns  and  Ayrshires  that  were  equal  to 
the  best  in  the  State ;  while  his  Cotswold  and  Merino 
sheep  multiplied  generously  on  his  hands,  and  he  sold 
them  at  highly  remunerative  prices. 

The  six-year-old  gelding  which  he  had  mentioned  to 
Morris,  he  had  known  from  the  week  it  was  foaled.  Old 

228 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT. 


229 


Winkham  valued  this  horse  at  a  round  figure,  for  that 
country,  and  those  days,  but  David  had  kept  his  eye  on 
him  —  and  soon  after  he  returned  home,  he  bought  him. 


THE   PLOUGHBOY  MOUNTED  THE  FENCE. 


The  ploughboy  Jeny,  Avhom  the  grocer  had  sent  out 
here,  proved  a  steady  lad,  but  he  was  a  little  4  homesick ' 
and  uneasy  for  a  time,  in  his  new  quarters. 


230        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

One  morning  he  espied  the  letter-carrier  trotting  down 
the  road  toward  Sunnyside  farm,  and  mounting  the  fence 
beside  the  field  where  he  had  been  set  at  work,  he  hailed 
him. 

"  I  say,  postman  !  " 

«  Well  —  what  is  it,  Jerry  ?  " 

"  Got  any  letters  ?  " 

"  Yes  —  a  lot  of  'em." 

"  For  me  ?  " 

"  You  ?  No,  lad.  Who  should  send  you  letters, 
pray?" 

"  It  mought  be,  though." 

"  From  whom  ?  " 

"  Maister  Mowland.  He  got  me  a  good  place,  here, 
you  know.  And  he  said  he'd  write  to  me." 

"  Well,  I've  nought  for  you  —  but  two  for  Morris 
Deans." 

"  He's  over  at  Blount's." 

"  I  know  it." 

And  away  went  the  Brandville  mail-carrier,  with  the 
letters  for  Morris  Deans.  One  was  from  David,  informing 
him  that  he  would  soon  be  at  Sunnyside  with  the  Wink- 
ham  colt.  The  other  was  from  Frank  Meyers,  at  New 
York. 

The  postman  halted  shortly  at  the  farm-gate,  and  select 
ing  the  two  envelopes  for  young  Deans,  delivered  them  a 
moment  afterwards,  upon  seeing  Morris  coming  down  the 
driveway  on  his  road  to  the  hay-fields. 


HOW  TO   MAKE    IT.  231 

The  little  fellow  watched  the  carrier,  as  he  turned 
away,  and  then  resumed  his  hoeing. 

"  They  don't  write  to  us  poor  lads,"  he  murmured,  dis 
contentedly.  "  An'  if  Maister  Mowland  did,  who'd  read 
it  for  me  ?  I  can't,  anyway.  But  he  don't  know  that, 
p'raps.  He  didn't  arx  me  could  I  read,  or  write.  But 
he  said  he  would  send  me  a  letter.  Maybe  he  will." 

Then  humming  an  old  song  he  had  caught  up  among 
his  former  strolling  companions,  he  went  at  his  toil  again, 
cheerfully,  for  he  was  pleasantly  situated  now,  and  had 
enough  to  eat,  daily  —  which  was  quite  a  novelty  in  his 
young  experience  I 

The  fame  of  Morris  Deans  as  a  stock  fancier  became 
noted  in  the  course  of  three  or  four  years  after  he  took  to 
farming  so  kindly ;  and  his  opinion  was  consulted  and 
quoted  by  the  neighbors,  far  and  near,  upon  points  of 
excellence  in  live  stock. 

Farmer  Slow  —  who  lived  half  a  mile  above  Sunnyside 
(on  the  wrong  side  of  the  River,)  had  plodded  along  in 
the  time-worn  furrows  of  his  ancestors  all  his  life.  But 
he  went  so  far  out  of  the  old  ruts,  on  one  occasion,  as  to 
venture  upon  procuring  a  sample  of  improved  Berkshire 
swine,  to  cross  upon  his  previously  bred  long-shanked 
wiry -haired  native  pigs. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year,  his  new  black  pigs  grew  so 
obese,  and  their  appearance  to  his  eye  became  so  extraor 
dinary,  in  comparison  with  what  he  had  hitherto  known 
in  this  class  of  animal,  that  he  made  up  his  mind  the  new 


232        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

breed  he  had  ventured  with,  upon  Morris'  recommenda 
tion,  must  be  dropsical.  He  sent  for  Deans  to  come  over 
and  examine  his  pens,  and  advise  him  what  to  do  for  the 
"pursy  creturs."  He  showed  the  new  and  the  old  breeds 
together,  and  said  — 

"It's  a  dre'dful  thing,  Mr.  Morris.  That  'ere  hog 
is  a  wonder.  I  never  seen  the  like  of  him.  But  I  reck'n 
he's  an  unfort'nate  beast,  arter  all.  It's  jess  my  luck  ! 
Now  I  paid  three  times  the  price  fer  'im,  as  yeu  know,  'at 
I  ever  did  afore  fer  a  shote  in  my  life,  an'  he  turns  out 
nought  but  a  bladder  o'  bloat." 

Morris  smiled  at  the  old-style  farmer's  earnestness,  and 
alarm. 

"An'  yeu  recommended  this  new-fangled  stock  too, 
Morris.  He's  gone  up  ter  that  'ere  figger  jess  like  a  bal 
loon.  That  pig  has  widen'd,  an'  widen'd,  an'  he  hain't 
hed  harf  the  feed  o'  t'others.  I  darsen't  let  him  eat.  But, 
do  my  best,  he's  got  so  fat  'at  I  think  he'll  bu'st  afore 
killin'  time  —  sartm.  Wot's  the  matter  with  the  poor 
crittur  ?  "  he  asked. 

And  Farmer  Slow  pointed  at  the  two  swine  in  his  sty, 
as  they  stood  side  by  side  —  the  substance  and  the 
shadow  !  The  Berkshire  and  the  native  —  for  the  fate  of 
the  former  of  which  he  had  latterly  become  seriously 
alarmed,  since  he  had  never  before  in  his  experience 
witnessed  so  extraordinary  a  result,  and  had  not  been 
educated  to  appreciate  this  improvement  upon  the  old 
races. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  233 

"  I  should  say,"  observed  Morris,  with  a  smile,  "  there 
is  a  difference  in  the  breed  of  these  hogs,  Mr.  Slow." 

"  An'  you  don't  think  the  black'  un  is  onhealthy, 
then?" 

"  No,"  returned  Morris.  "  He  is  rather  corpulent,  to 
be  sure.  But  I  don't  find  this  a  serious  complaint,  in 
swine  —  Mr.  Slow.  The  other  beast  you  have  here,  is  in 
a  galloping  consumption,  evidently!  " 

Farmer  Slow  scratched  his  head  —  looked  curiously  into 
the  face  of  his  young  friend  —  and  concluded  to  discard 
the  old  farm  swine  he  had  so  many  years  fed  to  little 
profit,  and  eventually  vastly  improved  his  stock  of  pigs, 
which  became  famous  subsequently  for  their  "  remarkable 
obesity  "  at  killing  time. 

David  Morehead  purchased  the  fast  colt  of  Mr.  Wink- 
ham,  intending  it  for  Morris. 

"  And  you  say  the  gelding  can  foot  a  mile  in  two-thirty- 
five  ?  "  asked  David,  when  he  paid  old  Winkham  nine 
hundred  dollars  cash  down  for  the  pony. 

44  An'  better,  David." 

44  Better  than  2.35  ?  " 

44  Any  day  in  the  week.  He's  as  sound  as  a  roach,  too 
—  gets  up  well  afore  an'  behind,  has  a  clean  trot,  no  hop- 
skip,  or  jump,  an'  he's  as  'onnest  as  a  cooper's  cow  at  it. 
Yer  can't  break  him  outen  his  nat'ral  gait,  wi'  no  fair 
treatment,  David.  Square  on  his  pins,  every  time ;  an' 
wi'  proper  trainin',  that  ere  colt'll  do  his  mile  away  down 
n  the  twenties,  sure's  yer  live,  boy,  afore  he's  a  year 


234  A  HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

older.  Now  I  tell  it  jest  as  it  is.  And  don't  yer  fergit 
it,"  concluded  old  Winkham,  rolling  up  his  nine  hundred 
dollars ;  which  was  three  times  the  price  he  had  ever 
before  been  paid  for  a  Morgan  colt  —  and  he  had  raised  a 
hundred,  first  and  last. 

"  Nine  hunder'd  dollars  is  an  orlraitey  price  for  a  six- 
year-old  colt,  though,  Winkham,"  muttered  David,  "  at 
fust  hands." 

"It's  enough,  I  allow.     But  yen  don't   put  nary  nine 

hunder'd  dollars  out,  'nless 
yeu  know  jest  what  yer 
gohr  to  do  with  yer  ani- 
mail,  David !  We  all  know 
yeU)  hereabouts,"  returned 
the  keen  old  fellow,  with 
a  chuckle. 

"  If  I  git  a  thousan',  or 
twelve  hunder'd  dollars  for 

THE  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  COLT.  1    .  117.     -i  -,  Tni    i 

him,  Winkham,  111  be  sat 
isfied,"  suggested  David,  indifferently. 

"  No  yeu  won't,  David  Morehead.  Yeu  won't  arsk 
less'n  fifteen  hunder'd  for  him,  now  —  will  you?  " 

"  I'll  do  the  best  I  can,  o'  course." 

"  Got  a  customer  ?  " 

"  I  hope  so.     I  don't  want  him." 

"  I  reck'n  yeu  hev,  then,  anyhow.  Wai,  good  luck  to 
yer.  Le'm  me  know  what  comes  of  him,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Perhaps,"  said  David  —  turning  away  with  his  splen 
did  new  trotter. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  235 

Within  ten  days,  he  found  his  way  down  to  Brandville 
again  —  where  he  called  on  Morris,  and  showed  him  his 
new  purchase. 

"  How  do  the  ponies  get  on?  "  asked  David. 

"  Which  ones  ?  "  returned  Morris. 

"  The  black  pair  o'  colts." 

"  Oh,  yes.     Gone  —  a  week  ago." 

"Sold 'era?" 

"  Yes.  A  man  came  up  from  Worcester  'at  wanted  a 
pair  o'  nice  carriage-horses,  and  he  took  them  away." 

"How  much?" 

"  Never  you  mind.     What  have  you  got  here  now  ?  " 

"This?  That's  the  Winkham  colt — comin'  six  year 
old ;  an'  as  good  a  bit  of  hoss  flesh  as  they  make  'em,  up 
our  way,  Morris." 

"  He's  a  good  looker,  't  all  events." 

"  You're  right,  there,  Morris.  An'  he  ken  travel,  too, 
he  ken." 

"  What's  his  speed,  now  ?  " 

"  Here.  Get  in,  an'  we'll  take  a  turn  down  the  road," 
said  David,  pleasantly  —  "  an'  you  shall  see." 

After  a  half  hour's  exercise,  Morris  made  up  his  mind 
that  he  had  never  gone  over  the  ground  so  fast  before 
in  his  life,  as  he  had  behind  that  beast.  And  this  with 
two  men  in  the  wagon  ! 

"  What  does  Winkham  ask  for  him  ?  "  inquired  Morris. 

"  Nothing,  now,"  returned  David. 

"  Looking  for  a  customer,  eh  ?  " 


236  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

"  No.     He  don't  own  him." 

"No?     Who,  then?" 

u  He's  mine.     I  bought  him." 

"  What  is  your  figure,  then  ?  " 

"  I  want  two  thousand  dollars  for  him,  but  I  dassent 
ask  it,"  said  David.  "  I'm  a  goin'  to  look  'round  a  little. 
I'm  told  'atfast  'uns  are  bringin'  big  prices  down  'n  York ; 
an'  I  donno  but  I  may  kinder  get  down  there  with  this 
'un,  an'  see  what  he'll  fetch  among  the  knowin'  ones." 

Morris  had  sold  his  two  colts,  which  he  purchased  of 
David  for  sixteen  hundred  two  months  previously,  at 
three  thousand  dollars.  He  had  determined,  already,  that 
he  would  own  this  Winkham  colt  before  night. 

"  What  is  the  bottom  dollar  you'll  take  for  this  fellow, 
now,  David  ?  "  he  asked  insinuatingly. 

"  You  don't  want  to  giv'  two  thousand  dollars  for  a  hoss, 
I  s'pose,  Morris  ?  " 

"  No  !     You're  right,  David,  the  first  time.     I  don't." 

"  Then  you  don't  want  this  'un." 

"  Yes.     I'll  buy  him  —  at  a  decent  figure." 

"  You'll  git  a  heap  more'n  that  for  him,  Morris.  1 
know.  You  can't  fool  me." 

"  But  I  have  got  to  find  my  customer,  you  know, 
David." 

"  True.  Well,  I'll  sell  this  colt,  Morris,  here  —  now  — 
sharp's  the  word,  an'  go  home  —  for  jest  eighteen  hunder'd 
dollars." 

"  I'll  give  you  fifteen  hundred  for  him." 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  237 

"  No you  won't." 

"Well,"  said  Morris,  looking  the  superb  animal  all 
over  —  "I'll  make  it  sixteen  hundred." 

"No,  Morris." 

"  Let's  trade,  David,"  suggested  Deans. 

"  I  want  to,  Morris." 

"  And  we'll  split  the  difference.  Come !  Seventeen 
hundred  —  and  it's  done." 

"  If  I  hadn't  a'  named  eighteen  hunder'd,  I  wouldn't 
budge  at  less'n  two  thousand,  Morris.  Now  you  jess  say 
no,  at  eighteen  hunder'd,  an'  I'll  give  yer  twenty-five 
dollars  for  doin*  so.  Here." 

And  David  drew  his  wallet,  holding  out  the  money. 

Morris  opened  the  big  farm-gate,  again  —  at  these  words. 

"  Drive  him  in,  David,"  he  said.  "  He's  mine.  You're 
a  tough  fellow  to  bargain  with,  that's  a  fact.  Now,  how 
much  do  you  make  on  him  ?  "  queried  Morris,  a  few  min 
utes  later,  as  he  counted  out  the  eighteen  hundred  dollars. 
.  "  Never  you  mind,  Morris,"  returned  David,  repeating 
the  other's  words.  "  You'll  do  well  enough  with  him ; 
for  I  tell  you  he's  a  good  'un,  sure  as  preachin'." 

So  he  was,  to  be  sure. 

David  went  home  to  Polly,  with  his  clean  nine  hundred 
dollars  profit  made  on  the  Winkham  colt  —  and  within  the 
succeeding  month  Morris  Deans  concluded  to  take  this 
fine  gelding  down  to  New  York  —  to  show  him  to  some  of 
the  live  horse-fanciers,  and  get  a  record  for  him,  as  to  his 
speed,  upon  the  Union  mile-course  there. 


238        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

The  old  Boston  companions  had  kept  up  a  friendly 
correspondence  in  the  years  since  they  had  been  separated, 
and  Morris  had  latterly  informed  Frank  Meyers  of  his 
intention  to  make  him  a  visit  in  New  York  city ;  where 
the  latter  had  been  nourishing  so  signally  for  a  few  years, 
as  we  have  seen. 

When  he  got  ready  to  leave  Sunnyside,  on  his  contem 
plated  trip  to  Manhattan,  Aunt  Chlo6  came  in  to  bid  him 
"  good-by  Mass'r  Mor's ; "  for  the  good  old  negress  had 
become  very  much  attached  to  Deans  —  like  the  rest  of 
Farmer  Blouut's  household  —  and  pretty  Eunice,  now  past 
four-and-twenty,  also  entered  the  keeping-room,  to  give 
her  friend  good-speed  on  his  intended  journey. 

"You  won't  be  long  away,  Morris?  "  ventured  Eunice, 
kindly. 

"  Only  a  week  or  two,  at  farthest,  Euny,"  returned  the 
young  man.  "  I've  got  a  splendid  colt,  in  the  Winkham 
horse,  and  he  is  too  valuable  to  keep  here.  Down  at  York, 
so  my  old  friend  Meyers  writes  me,  such  animals  bring 
great  prices.  And  I  am  bound  to  get  what  he  is  worth, 
out  of  some  one  of  the  fancy  buyers  of  such  stock  there." 

Eunice  Blount  and  Morris  Deans  had  got  to  be  very 
good  friends,  since  the  now  matured  young  man  had  come 
from  Boston  to  Sunnyside,  a  moneyless  but  handsome  lad. 
And  she  parted  with  him,  reluctantly. 

He  had  never  been  away  from  his  later  home  over 
twenty  four  hours  at  a  time,  since  he  came  —  and  old 
Blount  and  his  pleasant  wife  had  come  to  look  upon  Mor- 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  239 

ris  as  an  adopted  son,  almost  —  so  well  had  he  comported 
himself,  and  so  faithful  had  he  proved  in  his  devotion  to 
the  rich  farmer's  interests. 

He  had  had  a  comparatively  easy  time  of  it,  on  the  farm. 
He  had  latterly  carried  things  pretty  much  in  his  own 
way,  and  he  enjoyed  his  leisure  of  late  more  than  when 
he  first  came  to  Sunnyside. 

Young  Deans  was  a  good  angler,  and  the  western 
Massachusetts  brooks  were  at  that  period  alive  with  spar 
kling  trout.  Morris  was  fond  of  this  pastime,  and  Miss 
Eunice  in  her  floral  searchings  sometimes  joined  her  friend 
in  his  fishing  bouts.  But  the  contented  twain  never 
talked  of  love  during  these  very  pleasant  woodland  excur 
sions —  so  enjoyable  to  both. 

Now,  Morris  had  possessed  himself  of  the  Winkham 
trotter,  which  he  appreciated,  fully.  And  upon  going  to 
New  York,  he  carefully  bestowed  this  really  valuable  colt 
at  a  private  stable  recommended  by  Meyers. 

He  was  delighted  to  find  Ely  Hawes  there,  who  was 
actively  at  work  in  introducing  his  Bank-safe  locks,  at  this 
time  ;  and  to  learn  also  that  Reuben  Downer,  whom  he 
remembered  as  the  former  poor  printer-lad,  was  on  the 
high  road  to  fortune,  in  his  prospering  weekly  "  New  York 
Leader  "  establishment. 

The  friends  cordially  greeted  each  other,  and  turned 
back  in  their  memories  to  the  old  days,  when  neither  one 
of  these  four  young  men  had  a  shilling  in  his  pocket,  be 
yond  what  his  current  demands  for  food  and  clothing 
absorbed. 


240  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

"  Those  were  hard  times,  to  be  sure,"  said  Morris. 

"  Yes,"  returned  Frank,  gayly,  "  but  we  were  among 
the  lads  who  were  not  afraid,  eh  ?  " 

"  I  confess  that  I  had  my  fears,"  observed  Ely,  "  at 
times." 

"  But  still  you  were  quite  as  hopeful  as  any  of  us,  and 
have  proved  yourself  more  resolutely  determined,  in  ad 
versity's  face,  than  the  rest." 

"  Well,  boys,"  interrupted  Reuben,  "  we  are  surely  all 
doing  well  enough,  now." 

"  You  may  say  so,  Reuben,  with  emphasis,"  returned 
Frank. 

"  And  you,  my  dear  Meyers  ?  " 

"  Ah,  well.     You  know  I  never  complained." 

"  Nor  I,"  added  Morris. 

"  Nor  I,  .egad,"  continued  Ely.  "  It  has  been  a  little 
rough,  sometimes,  but  daylight  broke  upon  my  prospects 
two  years  ago  ;  and  every  thing  is  now  as  promising  as  I 
could  wish.  Ill  have  my  hundred  thousand,  now." 

"  Good  !  And  you,  Morris,"  continued  Reuben 
Downer,  "  I  hear  you  are  making  your  fortune,  too,  upon 
a  farm  ?  " 

"  I  have  done  very  well  —  so  far." 

"What  is  it  Meyers  tells  me  about  your  live  stock 
operations  ?  You  have  brought  a  good  piece  of  horse 
flesh  here  with  you,  eh  ?  " 

"  A  very  good  one,  Reuben." 

"What  is  it?" 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  241 

"  A  bay  gelding." 

"Blooded?" 

"  Morgan,"  said  Morris. 

"  A  trotter  ?  " 

"  Yes  —  and  as  clean  a  one  as  you  ever  saw." 

"  How  fast  ?  " 

"  I  really  don't  know  that,  yet.  But,  lively  —  I  promise 
you." 

"I  am  £he  owner  of  two  or  three  good  'uns,  Morris. 
You  shall  ride  behind  one  of  them,  if  you  like,  to 
morrow." 

"  Thank  you.  I  have  heard  that  you,  and  other  gentle 
men  in  York  —  Jerome,  Vanderbilt,  and  Lorrillard,  have 
paid  high  figures  for  some  of  your  nags." 

"Yes.  That  is  so.  But  some  of  us  here  have  got 
flyers  —  Morris." 

"  In  speed,  you  mean?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  What  do  you  call  a  '  flyer,'  Reuben  ?  " 

"  Oh  —  anywhere  well  down  in  the  twenties." 

"  Yes.     That  must  be  fast." 

"  It  is.  A  young  horse  bought  down  in  Maine  not  long 
since,  owned  by  a  friend  of  mine,  has  shown  a  speed  upon 
the  track,  this  month,  of  'twenty-four." 

"  Twenty-four  ?     What  is  that  ?  " 

"  A  mile  —  around  the  track  —  in  two  minutes  and 
twenty-four  seconds." 

"  What  is  such  an  animal  worth,  Reuben  ?  " 


242  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  If  he  can  beat  that  time,  and  is  sound  and  right  — 
there  are  half  a  dozen  men  in  New  York  to-day,  Morris, 
who  will  check  out  five  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  for 
such  a  colt  —  willingly." 

"  Twenty-five  thousand!  Or,  twenty-five  hundred, 
Reuben?" 

"  Thousand,  I  said,  my  boy." 

The  heart  of  young  Morris  leaped  into  his  throat  at 
this  off-hand  announcement  of  Reuben  —  who  he  had 
been  informed  had  paid  some  heavy  prices  for  his  favorite 
horses.  But  the  Connecticut  River  "  countryman  "  was 
not  prepared  for  this  ! 

"  I  had  no  idea  that  even  good  horses  brought  such 
prices,"  he  said. 

"  Oh,  yes.  And  there  is  sharp  competition,  too,  among 
those  who  want  the  best.  /  will  give  thirty  thousand 
dollars  cash,  for  a  good  sound  colt,  not  over  six  or  seven 
years  old,  that  can  do  his  mile,  in  two  minutes  and  twenty 
seconds,"  said  Downer,  squarely. 

"  And  what  for  one  that  can  trot  a  mile  in  2.28,  or 
'30  ?  " 

"  That  is  good.  But  I  don't  want  that  kind  of  a  nag, 
now.  I  can  beat  all  that  sort  of  time,  with  what  I've  got, 
Morris." 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  so.  I  don't  know  what  my  colt  can  do. 
But  I  propose  to  ascertain,"  said  Morris,  after  a  moment's 
thought. 

"  I  would  like  to  see  him  trot,  Morris." 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  243 

"  You  shall,  of  course." 

"  It  may  be  you've  got  a  good  'un." 

"  I  have,  Reuben." 

"If  he  can  go  down  to  twenty-three  —  " 

"  He  has  never  been  trained,  at  all." 

"  Ah,  well.     Noble  can  tell  you." 

"  Noble  ?  " 

"  Yes.  He  is  a  professional  whip.  He  can  judge,  and 
so  can  I,  upon  seeing  him  perform.  My  way  is  to  4  hold 
the  ticker,'  myself.  If  you've  got  any  such  colt  as  I  have 
indicated,  you  can  get  his  full  value,  here  in  York,  I 
assure  you,  any  day." 

"  To-morrow,  we  will  see,  then." 

"  Yes.  I  will  take  you  out  in  my  phaeton.  You  shall 
see  what  we  have  got  here,  now,  and  we  will  see  what 
you  have  brought  us.  There's  money  in  a  right  good  'un, 
though,  Moms." 

Young  Deans  thought  his  prospects  promising,  now  ! 

He  left  his  friends,  and  went  to  examine  his  new  pur 
chase.  "  Two-thirty-five,  and  two-twenty-five,"  he  said 
to  himself.  "  There's  a  difference,  there.  I  thought  this 
colt  was  a  stunner.  But  he  can't  touch  that !  " 

However  —  he  would  be  able  to  get  a  handsome  advance 
upon  the  price  he  had  paid  for  his  animal,  anyway,  he 
concluded. 

And  if  he  showed  any  thing  like  the  speed  they  had 
been  talking  of,  he  would  really  make  a  small  fortune  on 
his  venture. 


244        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Ely  was  now  getting  ready  for  the  approaching  Institute 
Fair  that  would  soon  come  off  in  New  York,  where  he 
intended  to  exhibit  his  Safe  Locks,  in  competition  for  the 
Association's  Medal.  And  he  was  busy. 

Frank  Meyers  appointed  a  meeting  with  Reuben 
Downer  and  Morris,  for  the  following  afternoon  —  when 
they  were  all  to  learn  something  about  the  speed  of  the 
lauded  colt  young  Morris  had  brought  to  New  York. 

"  I  don't  know  much  about  these  '  flyers '  they  have 
here  "  murmured  young  Deans,  "  but  I  do  know  that  this 
Winkham  colt  is  a  hard  one  to  beat,  for  his  years.  We 
shall  see  what  he  can  do,  to-morrow." 

And  with  this  he  went  hopefully  to  his  lodgings,  confi 
dent  that  he  possessed  a  rare  young  animal  in  this  promis 
ing  trotter. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

HOW  MR.  TWEEDLE  MADE,   AND  LOST  IT. 

" <*  huii  Ired  years  ago, 

If  men  were  knaves,  why,  people  called  them  so. 

The  Ten  Commandments  had  a  meaning  then, 

Felt  in  their  bones  by  least  considerate  men. 

Now  —  since  to  steal  by  law  is  grown  an  art  — 

Whom  "  rogues  "  the  sires,  their  milder  sons  call  "  smart!  " 

J.  B.  LOWELI* 

As  a  contrast  to  the  rightful  mode  of  "  making  money," 
we  set  down  just  here  a  brief  record  of  the  course  pursued 
by  noted  Mr.  Tweedle,  of  Gotham  —  who  made  a  goodly 
fortune,  and  lost  it  —  with  his  ill-gained  reputation. 

The  fate  of  this  bad  man  was  but  one  of  many,  on  a 
lesser  scale.  And  a  sketch  of  his  career  may  possibly 
serve  as  a  healthful  warning  to  those  who  incline  inad 
vertently,  blindly,  or  wilfully  to  be  tempted  by  the  base 
advice  of  those  like  the  miserable  votary  of  avarice  whose 
dying  injunction  to  his  hopeful  heir,  was  "  Get  money,  my 
son  —  honestly,  if  you  can  ;  but  get  money  !  " 

Tweedle,  from  his  boyhood,  was  both  heartless  and 
avaricious  —  u  a  captive  fettered  to  the  oar  of  gain."  As 

245 


246        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

he  grew  to  manhood,  he  became  more  grasping,  more 
determined  in  his  will  to  obtain  gold  unlawfully,  more 
ambitious  of  the  possession  of  a  hoard  of  wealth,  and 
more  reckless  as  to  the  means  through  which  it  might  be 
attained. 

Though  he  did  not  openly  announce  the  fact  perhaps, 
yet  his  erratic  life  demonstrated  that  it  was  of  no  conse 
quence,  in  his  opinion,  how  riches  are  obtained,  so  that  the 
desired  end  be  reached,  successfully.  Thus  he  went  on, 
unscrupulously,  and  conquered  fortune  marvellously,  until 
he  found  himself  the  master  of  millions,  first  —  and  then 
became  an  inmate  of  a  loathsome  prison  ;  where  he  may 
scarcely  live  long  enough  to  atone  for  the  hideous  wrong 
doing  that  characterized  his  worthless  life,  for  years  and 
years  before  he  was  brought  to  account  for  his  folly  and 
misdeeds. 

The  brute  is  happier  than  such  a  human  beast  can  ever 
be  !  The  stupid  jackass  is  thought  to  be  miserable.  Yet 
his  evils  are  not  brought  on  by  himself,  or  through  his  own 
fault ;  he  feels  only  those  which  nature  has  inflicted.  But 
this  '  poor  creetur '  Tweedle,  in  addition  to  the  necessary 
ills  that  human  flesh  is  naturally  heir  to,  drew  down  upon 
his  head  a  multitude  of  others  —  and  paid  the  penalty  at 
last,  in  part,  for  his  wilful  wickedness. 

Charles  Mildmay  thinks  that  the  disposition  to  do  a  bad 
deed  is  the  most  terrible  punishment  of  the  deed  it  per 
forms.  And  it  should  never  be  forgotten  that  it  is  a 
man's  owu  dishonesty,  his  crimes,  his  shortcomings,  and 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


247 


his  barefaced  assurance  that  takes  from  him  natural 
soundness  of  mind,  and  '  leaves  but  a  wreck  behind,'  how 
ever  fortunate  or  successful  he  may  be  in  a  pecuniary 
view,  temporarily,  through  a  course  of  unprincipled  con 
duct  or  false  dealing  with  his  fellow-men. 


(BEFORE.)     MR.  TWEEDLE  "  ON  HIS  MAKE." 

A  man  is  made  great  or  little  by  his  own  will  and  intent. 
"  Every  man  stamps  his  true  value  on  himself,"  says  Schil 
ler.  The  price  we  challenge  for  ourselves  is  given  us. 
There  does  not  exist  the  sane  man  —  be  his  station  what 


248        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

it  may  —  who  may  not  be  the  carver  of  his  own  fortune, 
be  it  good  or  indifferent,  in  the  main  —  under  given  cir 
cumstances.  There  is  the  wrong,  as  there  is  the  right 
way,  however.  And  Mr.  Tweedle  chose  to  travel  upon 

the  former  road. 

* 

Long  prior  to  the  days  of  which  we  now  write,  the  huge 
political  power  of  New  York  city  centred  in  what  was 
then  familiarly  known  as  the  "  Tammany  ring."  In  the 
later  times,  (though  the  nature  of  this  fraternal  combina 
tion  has  been  little  changed,)  the  older  hard-heads  con 
nected  with  this  colossal  association  have  passed  away ; 
and  those  who  inaugurated  this  institution  have  left  the 
scene,  forever  —  to  the  fostering  care  of  men  of  lesser 
calibre,  but  similar  in  purpose  and  natural  conformation. 

Of  this  formidable  later  ring,  Mr.  Tweedle  was  an 
active  member,  for  several  years,  and  finally  became  recog 
nized  as  one  of  its  leading  Sachems.  The  small  fry  dubbed 
this  arch  intriguer  "  boss,"  by  way  of  compliment.  And, 
though  he  was  not  a  man  of  talent,  he  possessed  a  genius 
for  "  management,"  and  passed  for  a  good  "  organizer,"  in 
his  palmy  days. 

But  genius  crops  out  of  different  kinds  —  in  different 
individuals.  It  sometimes  needs  the  spur,  but  quite  as 
frequently  it  requires  the  curb.  Good  genius  finds  its 
first  and  last  requirements  in  a  love  of  probity,  truth  and 
honor.  Bad  genius  eternally  haunts  its  possessor,  while  it 
torments  and  harasses  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 
It  again  and  again  perils  the  position  and  fortunes  of  its 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  249 

holder,  too.  And  lucky  he  is,  indeed,  if  it  do  not  sooner 
or  later  wreck  his  estate,  and  blast  his  name,  irrevocably  ! 

All  politicians  are  not  thieves,  or  unprincipled  men  — 
by  any  means.  Yet,  however  disagreeable  may  be  the 
assertion,  there  is  unfortunately  too  much  of  these  bad 
qualities  existing  among  the  parties  in  this  country,  of 
any  political  denomination. 

Genius  is  called  the  instinct  of  enterprise.  A  lad  one 
day  approached  the  musical  composer,  Mozart,  desiring  to 
write  a  piece  of  music,  and  inquiring  the  way  to  begin. 
"  Wait,"  said  the  great  master.  "  Time  enough." 

"  You  composed  earlier  than  at  my  age,"  urged  the  boy. 
"  But  I  asked  nothing  about  it,"  returned  the  musician, 
curtly. 

Mr.  Tweedle  possessed  a  modicum  of  genius  of  the 
objectionable  kind.  He  was  riot  talented,  but  intuitively 
illiterate,  and  vulgar  in  his  ideas  and  aims.  He  was  ever 
lastingly  a  prey  to  unruly  sordid  passions.  He  possessed 
small  refinement  in  taste,  little  culture,  less  truthfulness, 
and  no  spark  of  moral  honesty,  in  his  outre  composition. 
And  his  genius  was  of  the  character  that  challenges  only 
pity ;  for,  as  Holmes  has  it,  it  "  stood  a  good  chance  of 
dying  in  a  hospital,  or  a  jail  —  in  hopeless  debt,  and  bad 
repute." 

Mr.  Tweedle  did  not  ask  questions,  either.  He  went 
forward  with  a  recklessness  and  show  of  enterprise  full 
worthy  of  a  better  cause  —  upon  this  wrong  road  —  all 
unmindful  of  the  truthful  apothegm  that  he  who  commits 


250        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

wrong  will  himself  inevitably  "  see  the  writing  upon  the 
wall,"  sooner  or  later. 

But  Tweedle  was  a  politician  —  in  his  way  —  and  he 
came  to  be  a  leader  among  modern  Tammany-ites.  He 
wormed  himself  into  office,  obtained  power  within  the 
ring,  robbed  everybody  publicly  or  privately,  whom  when 
and  wherever  he  could  find  opportunity  —  and  in  a  few 
years  became  enormously  rich. 

The  celerity  with  which  his  great  fortune  was  acquired, 
astonished  even  those  who  were  associated  with  him,  cov 
ertly. 

"  How  do  you  do  it,  Tweedle  ?  "  asked  the  quid  nuncs 
and  the  ambitious  younger  men  who  surrounded  him,  or 
followed  in  his  wake. 

"  Never  you  mind,  boys.  It's  all  right,"  says  Tweedle. 
"  And  there's  more  of  it,  in  the  same  hopper  —  enough 
for  you  and  for  me,  and  for  our  children,  and  their  chil 
dren.  There's  millions  in  it  —  yet.  We  have  only 
began,  boys  !  " 

When  Tweedle  had  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  in 
his  hands,  which  he  had  filched  indirectly  from  the  city 
treasury  by  means  of  swindling,  false  entries,  bogus  certi 
fied  accounts,  long  bills,  made-up  vouchers,  and  bare-faced 
unrighteous  claims  —  he  went  from  bad  to  worse  with  a 
flowing  sail,  of  a  truth. 

"  A  mere  bagatelle  ! "  he  said,  contemptuously,  when 
some  one  in  the  ring  suggested  to  Tweedle  that  "  he  must 
be  worth  a  million." 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  251 

"  A  mere  drop  in  the  bucket,"  he  exclaimed. 

"  What  is  your  mark,  then  ?  " 

"  Five  millions  at  the  least,"  returned  the  bold  knave, 
unblushingly.  "And  five  millions  more,  on  the  top  of 
that." 

"  A  huge  amount,  this,  Tweedle  !  " 

"  Nothing  like  doing  your  work  thoroughly,  while 
you're  about  it,"  suggested  Tweedle,  stroking  his  fat 
stomach,  complacently.  "  A  man  used  to  be  reckoned 
well  off  with  fifty  to  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  his 
name.  But,  bless  your  innocence,  what  would  that  paltry 
sum  do,  nowadays  ?  Nothing  !  " 

"  It  isn't  bad  to  take,  though,  Tweedle  —  nevertheless." 

"  What  ?  " 

"  A  cool  hundred  thousand  dollars." 

"  Pooh  !  Five  times  that  sum  is  requisite,  in  our  trade, 
to  keep  a  man  outside  the  gates  of  the  State  Prison  ! " 
ejaculated  the  monstrous  overgrown  thief,  carelessly. 

The  months  and  years  sped  by.  Tweedle  rolled  up  his 
ill-gotten  gains,  by  millions,  in  the  mean  time.  He  led  the 
van  in  the  political  ring  of  which  he  had  long  been  an 
active  ardent  member.  Scores  of  his  fraternal  associates 
in  Tammany  were  following  diligently  in  his  footsteps. 
They  gathered  riches,  too  —  but  he  claimed  and  seized 
the  lion's  share. 

"  How  much  is  Tweedle  worth,  to-day  ? "  asked  an 
outsider. 

"  Millions  —  at  the  least." 


252  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

"  How  many  ?  " 

"  No  one  knows." 

"  Where  does  he  get  it,  thus  rapidly.  He  was  a  poor 
laborer  but  a  few  years  since." 

"  I  know  it." 

«  Now  —  a  nabob !  " 

"  Yes.     A  modern  Croesus." 

"  He  is  not  a  speculator  ?  " 

"  No.". 

"A  stock-jobber?" 

"  No." 

"  A  merchant  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  A  banker,  haply  ?  " 

"  No." 

"What  then?" 

"  A  fat  office-holder." 

"  Ah.  Yes  —  I  see.  But  where  does  he  get  his 
money  ?  " 

"  Steals  it." 

"  Tweedle ! " 

"  Yes.  That  is  the  plain  English  of  the  thing.  Convey, 
I  think  is  the  word  used,  commonly.  But  this  other  is 
the  way  honest  men  pronounce  the  term." 

44  Convey?" 

"Ay — 'appropriate,'  if  you  like  the  word  better. 
He's  a  big  thief,  that  is  all." 

"  Why  don't  they  stop  him,  in  this  plundering  ?  " 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  253 

"Who?" 

"  Anybody  !     The  government." 

"  He  is  the  government,  here,  man." 

44 1  know  he  is  44  high  in  the  senate,"  politically,  but  it's 
a  grievous  wrong  —  all  this." 

44  So  it  is.     Let  us  see  you  right  it  I " 

44  Who,  me  ?  " 

44  You,  or  anybody  else." 

44 1  have  no  power  —  " 

44  He  has." 

44  And  more's  the  pity  !  " 

Other  years  went  by.  Tweedle  was  reputed  worth  ten 
millions  of  dollars,  at  length.  This  might  have  been 
over  the  mark.  But  he  had  enough  —  of  other  people's 
money.  And  one  day  Mr.  Tweedle  suddenly  found  him 
self  arrested  by  the  municipal  authorities,  charged  with 
the  commission  of  the  grossest  and  heaviest  fraud  and 
peculation  ever  alleged  against  any  individual  upon  the 
American  continent ! 

He  was  said  to  have  purloined  from  and  cheated  the 
city  treasury  out  of  millions  of  dollars ;  and  his  name 
became  thenceforth  a  by-word  and  a  reproach. 

44  How  much  ?  "  asked  Tweedle,  with  a  sickly  attempt 
at  a  smile,  when  the  almost  fabulous  amount  that  he  had 
robbed  the  people  of  was  announced  in  the  twelve  for 
midable  indictments  preferred  against  him  by  the  grand 
jury. 

44  Over  eleven  millions  in  the  aggregate,  that  we  have 


254        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

thus  far  discovered,"  responded  the  District  Attorney, 
severely.  It  proved  over  thirty  millions  —  all  told  —  in 
the  end ! 

"Those  who  joy  in  wealth,  alone,  says  a  good  man, 
grow  avaricious  ;  those  who  joy  only  in  their  friends,  often 
sacrifice  nobleness  of  spirit ;  those  who  joy  in  surround 
ings,  sink  dignity  of  character ;  but  those  who  joy  in  true 
liberty — which  is  simply  that  all  should  aet  upon  the 
golden  rule,  and  do  as  they  would  be  done  by  —  possess 
the  happiest  of  joys.  This  is  a  joy  that  no  one  can  barter 
away.  But  very  few  possess  it." 

From  the  nature  of  things,  it  is  certain  that  the  wealth 
of  a  majority  of  people  in  this  world  must  be  limited. 
The  product  of  labor  throughout  the  world,  if  equally 
divided,  would  not  make  the  share  of  each  individual 
large.  It  is  impossible  that  every  one  should  be  what  is 
called  rich.  But  it  is  by  no  means  impossible  to  be  inde 
pendent.  And  what  is  the  way  to  compass  this  "  glorious 
privilege"?  The  method  is  very  simple.  It  consists  in 
one  rule.  Limit  your  wants.  Make  them  few  and  inex 
pensive.  To  do  this  would  interfere  but  little  with  your 
real  enjoyment.  It  is  mostly  a  matter  of  habit.  You 
require  more,  or  you  are  satisfied  with  less,  just  as  you 
have  accustomed  yourself  to  one  or  the  other.  Limit  your 
wants,  estimate  their  cost,  and  never  exceed  it,  taking 
pains  to  keep  it  always  inside  of  your  income.  Thus  you 
will  secure  a  lasting  independence.  Young  men  should 
think  of  this.  A  great  deal  of  the  happiness  of  their  lives 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  255 

depends  upon  it.  After  having  made  your  money,  spend 
it  as  you  choose,  honestly ;  but  be  sure  you  make  it,  before 
you  spend  it. 

But  as  avarice  increases  with  the  increasing  pile  of 
wealth  obtained  in  haste  at  others'  cost,  so  Tweedle's 
grasping  disposition  had  driven  him  on  to  the  assumption 
of  greater  risks,  and  more  inordinate  measures  through 
which  to  add  to  his  rapidly  augmenting  riches,  wrongfully 
obtained,  until  he  suddenly  went  to  the  wall  —  and  hope 
lessly. 

It  is  but  a  question  of  time.  At  the  terminus  of  this 
wrong  road,  stand  destruction,  and  death !  The  wicked 
may  flourish  for  a  season,  but  "  they  shall  not  always  pros 
per,"  saith  the  Book  of  books. 

The  community  had  been  so  outraged  and  utterly  scan 
dalized  by  Tweedle's  bold  villany  and  the  wrong-doing  of 
his  aiders  and  abettors,  after  a  term,  that  farther  endurance 
of  this  evil  ceased  to  be  deemed  a  virtue,  in  the  metropolis 
where  this  big  offender  had  gone  on  so  long  in  his  success 
ful  infamy.  And  one  fine  morning,  while  he  defied  his 
critics  and  bade  his  opponents  do  their  worst,  the  over 
confident  and  unscrupulous  Mr.  Tweedle  went  up. 

Still,  he  had  flourished  until  the  Devil  got  him  well 
'  down  in  the  depths '  —  and  left  him  to  get  out  of  his 
dilemma,  as  best  he  could. 

"And  what  do  you  style  this  principle,  Mr.  Tweedle, 
which  you  say  is  the  governing  element  in  your  associa 
tion  ?  "  asked  an  anxious  inquirer,  one  day. 


256        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  Dimocracy,  they  call  it,"  said  Tweedle,  as  he  rubbed 
his  ponderous  fat  paunch,  contentedly. 

44  A  very  good  name,  Mr.  Tweedle." 

"  Euphonious,"  said  Tweedle,  with  a  leer. 

44  But  you  consider  this  mere  gammon,  eh  ?  " 

44  That  is  another  word  for  it,  yes." 

44  It  evidently  pays  ?  "  suggested  his  interlocutor. 

«  Well  —  that  depends,"  replied  Tweedle.  "  Ekal  rights 
is  a  fine  thing,  in  the  abstrack.  We  go  fer  the  greatest 
good  o'  the  greatest  number,  allers." 

"And  what  is  that?" 

44  Why  —  number  one ain't  it  ?  " 

44  Ah,  I  see." 

44  It's  a  great  blessin',"  continued  Tweedle,  "  this  bring- 
in'  all  men  on  a  ekality  with  each  other." 

44  So 'it  is,"  returned  his  friend. 

44  A  big  thing,"  replied  Tweedle,  in  his  undaunted  style 
of  impudence  and  self-assurance. 

It  was  a  big  thing,  to  be  sure !  A  crime  of  crimes  — 
considered  in  all  its  bearings  —  under  the  peculiar  circum 
stances  of  this  man's  case. 

And  what  resulted  ? 

44  He  escaped  punishment,  of  course,"  suggests  the  cas 
ual  observer.  4t  They  always  do.  These  big  thieves  are 
rarely  convicted.  It  is  the  poor  deserted  hungry  lad  who 
takes  a  loaf  of  bread  from  the  rich  man's  door-step  in  the 
winter's  morning  to  save  him  from  starvation,  who  is 
caught  and  sent  to  prison.  No  such  offenders  as  Mr. 
Tweedle  can  be  reached,  ordinarily." 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  257 

True.     But  wait  a  moment. 

"  Ah,  I  can  see !  Tweedle  defied  them.  He  had  too 
much  money  for  them.  Able  attorneys,  and  plenty  of 
them,  stood  ready  to  defend  the  wealthy  thief,  and  Court, 
lawyers,  jurors,  officials  could  be  bought  —  with  ready 
gold  !  All  of  them  have  their  price,  he  claimed.  And  in 
Tweedle's  case,  there  was  money  enough  to  purchase  a 
regiment  of  these  people." 

Wait  —  gentle  reader. 

Let  us  see. 

The  best  legal  talent  in  the  land  was  employed  by 
Tweedle  to  defend  him  against  the  vast  charges  of  "  irregu 
larities  "  in  which  he  at  last  became  involved. 

From  month  to  month  —  for  many  months  —  the  case 
was  put  off,  postponed,  deferred,  delayed.  Mr.  Tweedle, 
meantime,  found  himself  called  on  to  furnish  responsible 
sureties  for  bail  in  the  trifling  sum  of  a  million  of  dollars 
—  to  begin  with  ! 

This  was  readily  furnished,  the  rich  villain  being  able 
absolutely  to  secure  his  friends  —  as  he  did  —  by  transfer 
ring  to  them  double  this  amount  of  unencumbered  real 
estate,  for  the  favor  desired  by  Tweedle. 

44  Then  he  was  tried  —  at  last  —  and  acquitted  ?  " 

Not  much  ! 

Mr.  Tweedle  travelled  '  around  the  circle,'  for  months, 
thereafter.  Now  in  England,  now  in  Canada,  now  in 
Havana,  now  West,  now  South,  now  East.  But  when 
time  was  called,  eventually  —  he  put  on  his  boldest  front, 


258        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

snapped  his  fingers  contemptuously  in  the  face  of  accusers, 
court,  jury,  and  the  public  —  and  appeared  for  trial. 

Meantime,  his  guilty  partners  in  the  monstrous  robbery 
of  the  people's  chest  had  decamped  —  and,  like  the  rats 
that  leave  the  sinking  ship,  they  made  themselves  scarce 
—  upon  Tweedle's  instigation,  and  at  Tweedle's  cost,  in 
the  principal  instances. 

But  justice  was  upon  Tweedle's  heels,  in  earnest.  It  is 
a  long  lane  that  has  no  turn  in  it,  however  bright  and 
promising  the  path  may  seem,  for  the  nonce.  Tweedle  had 
now  actually  come  within  sight  of  the  turn  in  that  wrong 
road,  upon  which  he  had  for  years  been  travelling  unmo 
lested,  and  so  thrivingly. 

The  trial  was  prolonged,  and  his  well-paid  counsel 
did  their  utmost  legally,  technically,  sympathetically,  and 
earnestly  to  show  that  Mr.  Tweedle  was  as  white  as  milk, 
as  pure  as  snow,  and  had  been  foully  calumniated,  in  the 
allegations  made  against  him. 

The  judge  charged  clearly  and  forcibly.  The  Jury 
retired  for  but  brief  conference  —  for  a  long  deliberation 
was  unnecessary.  They  could  not  be  bought,  or  bribed, 
or  scared.  And  they  came  into  court  with  a  decided 
verdict  —  to  which  all  the  people  cried  amen,  —  GUILTY, 
on  all  the  twelve  indictments ! 

Tweedle's  under  jaw  fell,  sensibly,  at  this  crushing 
announcement.  One  count  might  possibly  have  been  sus 
tained,  by  the  overwhelming  array  of  testimony  that  had 
been  introduced  against  the  hitherto  lively  politician. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  259 

But  twelve  of  them  —  guilty  upon  all  —  and  no  exceptions 
permitted ! 

What  next,  for  heaven's  sake  ? 

The  Penitentiary  —  of  course  ! 

The  sentence  of  his  Honor  followed  quickly ;  and  so 
scathing  and  severe  a  line  of  remarks  preceding  this  finali 
ty,  in  Tweedle's  case,  never  before  or  since  fell  from  the 
lips  of  an  honorable  minded  upright  judge  upon  the 
American  bench. 

Vigorous  efforts  were  now  made  to  save  the  wretch 
from  his  just  doom.  Tvveedle  was  sentenced  to  twelve 
years'  incarceration  in  the  State  Prison.  And  all  Tam 
many  stood  aghast  at  this  result  in  the  famous  Tweedle 
trial. 

"  It  carn't  be  !  " 

"  It  arn't  so  !  " 

"  What  ?     Tweedle  sent  to  the  penitensherry  !  " 

These  were  the  fierce  ejaculations  that  burst  from  the 
lips  of  the  faithful,  when  the  news  came  that  "  Tweedle 
had  gone  up,  at  last." 

"  A  big  gun  spiked,  there  !  " 

"  A  bully  Tammany  boy  provided  for,  now  !  "  suggested 
others. 

Tweedle  wriggled  —  fought  —  objected  —  appealed  — 

argued  —  swore  —  fretted — threatened  —  begged but 

all  to  no  purpose. 

He  had  sinned.  Justice  had  overtaken  him.  He  was 
fairly  tried,  convicted,  and  l  put  away,'  at  length,  as  he 
richly  deserved. 


260 


A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


We  may  see  Tweedle,  drawn  to  the  life,  as  he  was  in 
the  days  of  his  wicked  prosperity,  a  jolly  fat  Tammany 
leader  —  at  the  commencement  of  this  chapter. 

Here   is  another  photograph   of  this  same   personage, 


(AFTER.)     TWEEDLE  AMID  HIS  REFLECTIONS. 

above,  in  his  subsequent  prison-quarters  —  where  he  was 
serving  out  his  sentence  of  a  dozen  years  for  gaining  his 
pile  through  robbery  of  the  public  chest ;  a  mode  of  4  mak 
ing  it '  which  can  never  become  popular,  and  which  in  all 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  261 

ways  or  manner  is  heartless,  dishonest,  and  despicable  to 
the  very  last  degree. 

We  note  these  facts  simply  by  way  of  caution ;  and 
turn  from  this  disagreeable  contrast,  to  follow  out  the 
more  creditable  modes  adopted  by  those  in  whom  we  take 
the  greater  interest  —  and  in  whom  our  readers  will  find 
far  more  agreeable  illustrations,  either  for  study  or  emula 
tion  —  no  doubt. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

"  TWO-TWENTY-TWO  "   FOB   THE   MORRIS   DEANS   COLT  ! 

WHEN  Meyers,  Downer,  and  Morris  Deans  met  the 
next  day  after  Morris  came  down  to  New  York,  they 
examined  the  bay  Morgan  gelding  he  brought  with  him, 
critically,  and  Downer  pronounced  him  4  a  good  'un  to 
look  at.' 

"  And  he's  a  good  'un  to  go,"  observed  Morris,  confi 
dently. 

"  No  doubt  of  it,"  returned  Downer,  warming  up,  as  he 
scrutinized  the  fine  points  of  this  extraordinary  young 
horse. 

The  muscular  shoulder,  broad  chest,  long  deep  hip,  full 
loins,  prominent  withers,  short  pastern,  small  clean  foot, 
even  lined  back,  and  ample  fore-arm  struck  the  connois 
seur  in  horse-flesh  as  highly  promising. 

"  But,"  taking  up  his  fore-leg,  "  what  have  you  got 
upon  his  feet  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Shoes,"  replied  Morris ;  "  what  else  should  he  have 
there?" 

262 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  263 

"  Do  you  call  these  things  shoes?  "  asked  Downer,  with 
a  smile. 

"  Yes.  I  had  him  fresh-shod  just  before  I  left  Brand- 
ville,"  continued  Morris. 

"  Marcus !  "  said  Downer,  hailing  the  private  stable 
groom,  with  whom  he  was  acquainted. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Take  this  colt  over  to  Weber's,  and  tell  him,  with  my 
compliments,  to  put  a  set  of  Downer's  style  of  shoes  upon 
his  feet." 

"  Yes  sir." 

"  We  know  how  to  shoe  a  -horse  in  New  York,  Morris  — 
any  way.  And  now,  while  your  colt  is  absent,  step  over 
to  the  stable  and  we'll  take  a  look  at  my  nags." 

The  three  friends  examined  Downer's  fast  horses  .in 
their  stalls,  and  Reuben  ordered  his  best  trotter  into  a  light 
wagon.  Meyers  remained  behind,  (he  had  been  there, 
previously,)  and  Morris  with  Downer  took  a  turn  upon 
the  Bloomingdale  Road  ;  where  young  Deans  went  over 
the  ground  as  rapidly,  for  a  two-mile  spurt  and  back,  as  he 
cared  to  ride,  in  this  world  —  so  he  declared  —  behind  his 
friend  Downer's  favorite  trotting  mare. 

An  hour  or  two  afterwards,  the  gentlemen  went  to  the 
course,  Morris  driving  his  new  bay  colt  over,  and  Meyers 
taking  a  seat  beside  Downer  in  his  wagon. 

It  had  been  arranged  by  Downer  that  an  experienced 
driver,  accustomed  to  the  track,  should  hold  the  ribbons 
over  Morris'  horse,  and  that  Downer,  Meyers,  Deans  and 


264       A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

the  track-keeper  should  occupy  the  judge's  stand,  where 
they  could  have  a  favorable  chance  to  view  the  colt's  per 
formance,  in  which  all  felt  a  deep  interest. 

The  animal  was  in  very  good  spirits,  and  for  his  heavy 
lumpy  country  shoes  a  neat  thin  trotting  shoe  having 
been  substituted,  the  horse  evidently  felt  much  easier  on 
his  pins  and  more  free  in  his  footing  than  his  owner  had 
ever  seen  him,  before. 

Downer  held  his  stop-watch  in  his  hand,  to  time  the 
colt  —  and  gave  the  word  to  '  go  ! '  after  his  driver  had 
moved  him  up  and  down  the  track  smartly,  a  few  minutes, 
by  way  of  exercise.  He  went  round  the  mile  track,  and 
crossed  the  line  at  the  close  in  2.31. 

"  That  is  very  well,"  observed  Downer,  "  for  a  first 
attempt.  He's  a  trotter." 

"  Try  him  again,"  said  Morris,  eagerly. 

"  Let  him  breathe  a  little,"  suggested  Downer. 

"  O,  he's  as  fresh  as  a  newly  caught  blue-fish,"  observed 
Morris.  "  And  he  can  beat  all  that  sort  o'  gait.  I  can 
drive  him  five  seconds  better,  myself." 

"  Go  !  "  shouted  Downer,  as  the  colt  came  up  sharply, 
a  moment  afterwards. 

And  he  went.  And  returning,  he  passed  the  score  in 
2.27,  with  apparent  ease. 

"  Better !     He's  a  good  'un,  Morris,"  cried  Downer. 

"Put  the  Buckskin  horse  beside  him,"  suggested 
Downer,  "  at  the  next  trial.  He  can  show  a  2.28  gait, 
ordinarily.  Let's  see  how  badly  the  colt  can  beat  him." 


I  i 


si 

It 


s  w 


g.8 

sr  5 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  267 

After  ten  minutes'  rest,  and  walking  exercise,  old  Buck 
skin  was  brought  out  from  the  course-stable,  and  away 
went  the  two  horses,  for  an  exhibition  of  their  best  speed  ; 
the  three  friends  being  greatly  exercised  at  the  prospect 
of  this  improvised  trotting-match. 

Downer  watched  the  young  animal  with  his  experienced 
eye  as  he  we.nt,  and  announced  his  time  —  "  first  quarter- 
post,  36  seconds,  half  mile  1.12,  third  quarter  1.49,  at 
score  in  2.26  !  "  leading  Buckskin  nearly  two  lengths, 
and  never  making  a  skip  in  the  entire  mile. 

"Bravo!  he  is  a  good  'un,"  exclaimed  Downer,  enthu 
siastically. 

"  I  told  you  so,"  said  Morris,  intensely  gratified  at  this 
splendid  performance. 

Then  the  handsome  beast  was  carefully  groomed,  and 
the  friends  returned  leisurely  to  the  private  city  stable, 
where  Morris  bestowed  his  horse  once  more. 

"  Well,"  observed  Deans,  "  what  do  you  say  to  that, 
Downer,  for  a  six-year-old  ?  " 

"  I  say  this,  Morris.  And  you  will  appreciate  my  dis 
interestedness,  I  think.  If  you  will  put  that  colt  into 
Noble's  hands,  for  training,  I  believe  that  within  three 
months  he  will  show  a  clean  record  of  2.22  or  '23." 

"  What  would  he  be  worth,  in  such  an  event  ?  " 

"  All  you  can  get  for  him,  my  dear  fellow.  /  may 
want  to  buy  him,"  returned  Downer. 

"  What  will  you  give  for  him  ?  " 

"  I  won't  take  any  advantage  of  you,  by  an  offer,  now. 


268  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

Wait.  Let  him  show  us  what  he  can  do  —  and  there  are 
enough  to  bid  for  him.  I  will  buy  him,  if  no  one  will 
offer  more  than  I  am  then  disposed  to  give." 

"  Thank  you,  my  friend.  I  will  take  your  advice," 
responded  Morris.  "  I  will  return  to  Brandville  in  a  few 
days  —  and  leave  the  pony  behind,  in  care  of  the  party 
}'ou  have  recommended.  At  the  end  of  three  months,  I 
will  come  down  to  New  York,  again  —  see  what  the  colt 
can  then  do  —  and  act  accordingly.  I  think  he  is  cut  out 
for  a  winner,  Reuben  —  and  you  may  make  a  pile  with 
him,  if  you  manage  rightly." 

"  If  I  purchase  your  colt,"  said  Downer,  "  he  will  never 
4  win  '  any  money  for  me." 

"  Why  not,  then  ?  " 

"  That  is  not  my  style,  Morris.  I  never  wagered  a  cop 
per  upon  the  speed  of  a  horse,  or  upon  any  other  object. 
And  I  never  intend  to." 

"  No  ?     But  you  go  in  to  beat  'em  all,  I  notice." 

"  For  the  pleasure  and  the  satisfaction  of  the  thing  — 
yes.  I  mean  to  own  the  fastest  trotters  in  the  world. 
This  is  my  hobby,  if  you  so  please  to  term  it.  But  I  will 
never  bet  a  dollar,  or  trot  a  horse  for  a  shilling  at  stake, 
under  any  circumstances  whatever.  Upon  the  road,  I  dis 
like  to  '  take  the  dust '  of  those  who  ride  for  pleasure,  as 
I  do  —  and  I  manage  to  avoid  this  inconvenience,  as  a 
rule  But  that  is  all.  Never  for  pecuniary  gain.  I  have 
no  occasion  to  enter  into  this  sort  of  competition,  thank 
fortune." 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  269 

And  Reuben  Downer  adhered  to  this  —  upon  principle 
—  in  his  future  ; 'though  he  did  own  the  fastest  trotting 
stud  in  America,  as  everybody  knew. 

Morris  remained  in  the  city  a  week,  daring  which  time 
he  was  constantly  in  the  society  of  Meyers  and  Ely,  riding 
about  with  Downer,  or  looking  after  his  colt,  occasionally. 

Then  he  went  back  to  Sunnyside,  where  the  Blount 
family  received  him  right  cordially  —  Miss  Eunice  being 
foremost  in  congratulating  her  enterprising  friend  upon 
his  safe  return  to  the  farm  again. 

"  It  has  been  so  lonesome,  Morris,"  she  said,  naively, 
"  since  you  left  us  !  I  wouldn't  have  believed  we  could 
have  missed  any  one  thus,  from  our  always  happy  house 
hold." 

"  I  had  a  right  good  time,  Euny,  among  old  friends  of 
my  youth,  there,  I  assure  you,"  replied  Morris.  "  And  I 
am  to  go  down  there  again." 

"  Soon?  "  queried  Eunice. 

"In  three  months." 

"  Did  you  accomplish  your  object,  Morris  ?  " 

"  No.  But  I  laid  the  train  for  this,  towards  a  result 
beyond  my  most  sanguine  anticipations,  I  assure  you." 

Then  he  explained  his  recent  experience  in  New  York 
city  —  and  old  Blount  entered,  to  join  in  the  conversation. 

"  Seems  to  me,"  observed  the  farmer,  "  that's  an  awful 
price  for  a  man  to  pay  for  a  single  horse,  Morris.  Did 
you  say  twenty  thousand  dollars  ?  " 

44 1  agree  with  you,  sir.     But  I  am   correct.     Ten  to 


270  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

twenty  thousand  dollars  have  been  paid,  I  know  —  in 
some  instances,  and  I  hear,  in  exceptional  cases,  even  more 
than  this." 

"  What  in  the  world  do  they  find  in  a  horse  to  command 
any  such  figures,  I  wonder  ?  " 

"  Speed,  sir." 

"  Speed  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir  —  and  bottom." 

44  Well,  upon  my  word,  it  will  pay  to  raise  good  colts, 
at  that  price.  And  you  say  you  didn't  sell  yours  ?  " 

44  No  sir.     Not  yet." 

44  Why  not  ?     I  thought  he  was  a  very  superior  beast." 

44  So  he  is,  sir.  But  he  is  quite  undeveloped,  I  think. 
And  his  trainer  —  in  whose  care  I  have  left  him  —  says  he 
is  4  too  soft,'  and  too  fleshy,  to  do  his  best  at  present.  I 
leave  him  in  New  York  therefore,  three  months  —  in  this 
expert's  care,  and  then  I  will  go  down  there  to  look  to 
him.  My  friend  Downer,  who  knows  the  men  and  the 
market  there,  and  is  himself  a  right  good  horse-fancier, 
thinks  I  may  then  obtain  a  round  price  for  the  colt,  if  he 
comes  up  as  we  are  constrained  to  believe  he  will,  from 
what  he  has  performed  already." 

44  I'm  glad  to  hear  of  your  success,  Morris.  But,  really, 
I  don't  believe  I  could  put  on  the  face  to  take  ten  or 
fifteen  thousand  dollars  for  one  horse  !  I  couldn't  —  that's 
a  fact." 

44  You  remember  what  you  paid  for  your  best  short-horn 
bull,  44  Arack,"  sir?"  asked  Morris,  referring  to  Blount's 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  271 

purchase  of  a  fine  stock  animal  he  had  imported,  at  a  cost 
of  six  hundred  guineas  —  over  $3,000. 

"  Ah,  well  —  yes.  That  was  a  superior  blooded  animal, 
and  of  great  service  to  a  man's  stock,  towards  improving 
his  grade  blood." 

"  But  this  is  a  fine  Morgan  colt  of  mine,  sir  ;  and  those 
which  I  have  referred  to,  that  command  such  wondrous 
prices,  are  also  pedigreed  stock,  or  imported  bloods." 

"  Well,  there's  some  difference  between  three  thousand 
and  twenty  thousand,  Morris  !  Either  is  bad  enough." 

"Will  you  sell  your  young  Arack,  sir — (out  of  your 
imported  animal,  now  three  years  old)  for  three  thousand 
dollars  ?  " 

"  No,  no  !     Of  course  not  —  " 

"  I  thought  you  wouldn't.     But  why  not,  sir  ?  " 

"  He's  not  for  sale,"  said  Blount. 

"  No  —  I  know  it.  And  you  wouldn't  take  five  thou 
sand  for  him  !  I  can  get  it,  if  you  will  part  with  him, 
sir." 

"No.     No  —  " 

"  Then  if  I  can  find  a  man  who  wants  my  young  horse 
on  account  of  any  particular  virtue  or  extraordinary 
capacity  he  possesses,  at  a  figure  say  five  and  twenty 
thousand  dollars  above  what  I  gave  for  him,  you  would 
not  have  me  reject  such  a  proposal,  would  you,  sir  ?  " 

"No,  no!"  responded  Blount.  "That  is  right.  At 
the  same  time,  it  is  an  extravagant  price  for  a  horse,  I 
say.  /  wouldn't  give  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  for 


272        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

twenty-five  of  the  best  horses  on  earth  —  for  my  own 
use,  Morris." 

And  with  this  the  old  farmer  left  the  room,  as  Eunice 
said  — 

"  You  will  make  a  fortune  out  of  your  purchase,  Morris, 
at  this  rate." 

Matters  went  along  smoothly  for  three  months  after 
wards,  and  Morris  proceeded  to  New  York  again.  He 
found  his  friends  once  more  and  learned  that  the  horse  had 
continued  to  improve,  wonderfully. 

They  went  out  to  the  track,  once  more  —  Morris,  Meyers 
and  Downer.  The  day  was  fine  and  cool,  and  Noble 
brought  the  colt  out  to  give  him  a  final  trial,  before  Morris 
offered  him  for  sale. 

He  was  in  splendid  condition,  and  after  two  or  three 
circuits  around  the  course,  the  word  was  given  him,  and 
Noble  drove  him  a  measured  mile,  from  score  to  score, 
in  the  unlooked-for  time  —  2.22 !  without  a  break  in  his 
trot,  from  the  word  4  go  ! ' 

Morris  Deans  left  New  York  the  next  day  for  Brandville 
and  Sunny  side,  in  very  good  spirits. 

Reuben  Downer  had  purchased  his  fast  colt,  and  paid 
him  cash  for  it,  five  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  ! 

That  horse  could  not  have  been  bought  of  Downer,  one 
month  subsequently,  for  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

But  Morris  was  content  with  this  trade. 

"  I  did  very  well  with  the  colt,  sir,"  lie  said  on  his 
return  to  Sunnyside. 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT. 


273 


"  Yes,  you  did,"  admitted  Blount. 

"  The  man  who  bought  him  can  afford  the  luxury,  too." 

"I  hope  so." 

"  He  is  rich,  sir." 

"  He  ought  to  be  !  " 

"  Ten  years  ago,  he  wasn't  worth  five  dollars,  sir." 


"  2.22,   MARKED  TIME,"  FOR  THE  MORRIS  DEANS  COLT. 

"  Who  is  it,  Morris  ?  " 

"  Reuben  Downer,  sir.V 

"  Ah,  yes.     I've  heard  of  him.     The  "  Leader  "  man  ?  " 

u  Yes,  and  an  old  friend  of  mine.  He  knows  what  a 
good  paper  ought  to  be,  sir." 

"  That  is  so.  And  he  knows  what  a  good  horse  is,  too, 
I  presume,"  concluded  Farmer  Blount. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

HOW  A  SECRET  GOVERNMENT   "  INFORMER  "  MADE  IT. 

WHATEVER  may  be  "  done  at  any  time,"  is  never  done 
at  all.  We  must  begin  right  at  the  beginning —  and  keep 
on  doing,  in  this  life  —  to  gain  our  lawful  ends.  This 
world  is  fortunately  a  grand  work-shop,  where  there  is 
plenty  to  do,  and  the  tools  are  at  hand,  if  we  but  choose 
to  take  them  up  and  use  them. 

Men  did  not  make  this  world,  but  they  may  mend  it. 
He  who  keeps  his  eyes  open,  by  daylight,  will  find  that 
this  same  world,  though  a  precious  good  one,  mostly,  con 
tains  a  great  many  fools  who  are  too  dull  to  be  employed 
by  anybody,  and  many  a  knave,  as  well,  who  is  too  sharp 
to  be!  But  it  is  the  compound  of  this  twain  that  we 
oftenest  meet,  and  with  whom  we  may  have,  perhaps  —  in 
the  long  run  —  the  most  to  do,  directly  or  indirectly. 

Mose  Topley  —  christened  Moses  —  for  example,  was  a 
first-class  intriguer.  He  had  passed  fully  twenty  years  of 
his  early  life  in  "  laying  round  "  upon  his  poor  relations, 
whenever  he  was  not  supported  through  shiftless  depend- 
ance  upon  his  victims  —  and  he  had  contrived  to  wheedle 

274 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  275 

and  over-match  all  who  harbored  or  trusted  him,  from  as 
far  back  in  his  history  as  any  one  who  knew  any  thing  at 
all  about  him  could  remember. 

Mose  Topley  was  a  very  extraordinary  being.  Never 
ill-tempered,  never  out  of  sorts  with  the  world,  or  any 
mortal  in  it — but  eternally  pre-disposed  to  dodge,  or 
shy  responsibility,  and  to  put  off  till  to-morrow,  or  next 
week,  or  next  year,  what  might  and  should  have  been 
entered  upon  to-day. 

Indolent,  uncertain,  and  shiftless  as  he  was,  he  was  a 
keen  fellow  in  small  trickery,  and  regularly  up  in  all  sorts 
of  "  sharp  practice,"  in  his  way.  But  his  way  indeed  was 
a  very  poor  way. 

For  years  and  years  he  never  had  a  dime  that  he  fairly 
earned.  He  could  never  find  the  implements  that  lie  about 
in  this  great  working  world,  ready  to  be  lifted  and  applied 
to  good  uses,  by  the  industriously  and  honestly  inclined. 
And  no  living  mortal  could  tell,  for  the  life  of  him,  how 
Mose  Topley  lived,  where  he  lived,  whither  he  came  from, 
OB  where  he  went  to,  from  week  to  week,  and  year  after 
year,  for  upwards  of  thirty  years. 

Mose  travelled,  nevertheless. 

That  is  to  say  —  he  absented  himself  from  Boston, 
(where  he  nominally  hailed  from,  for  a  long  period),  and 
he  turned  up  in  Springfield,  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Washington,  Richmond,  Canada  —  California  —  every 
where,  anywhere,  at  times  when  apparently  the  least 
expected. 


276 


A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


He  was  frequently  stumbled  on,  without  warning,  in  the 
corridors  of  the  public  buildings,  at  the  Capitol,  and  his 
smiling  face  and  stealthy  form  mousing  around  would  con 
front  you  at  any  unlooked-for  turn,  emerging  from  beneath 
the  arches,  or  from  behind  the  pillars,  as  he  groped  about 
with  velvet  foot,  apparently  busy,  but  never  engaged  in 
any  actual  pursuit  or  object  that  any  official  or  clerk  in 

the  Departments  at  Washington 
had  any  knowledge  of. 

Yet  he  was  always  read}r  with 
^an  explanation,  if  needful,  and 
constantly  on  his  ever  smooth 
tongue  he  had  some  plausible 
inquiry  to  offer,  to  ward  off  sus 
picion  that  he  was  up  to  mis 
chief;  though  in  justice  to  this 
curious  being,  it  should  be  said 
that  he  was  as  indolent  and  as 
harmless  as  a  lizard,  and  appar 
ently  about  as  aimless. 
But  he  never  had  any  ostensible  business.  He  journeyed 
without  luggage  —  and  came  and  went,  none  knew  or 
learned  whence,  or  whither.  He  never  paid  tavern  or 
hotel  fare  —  coach  or  railway  transportation.  Everybody 
seemed  to  know  Mose  Topley,  but  no  man  could  tell  you 
who  he  was,  what  he  was  employed  about,  or  how  he 
subsisted. 

He  run  up  bills  at  the  hotels,  but  never  thought  of  pay- 


HOUSING   MOSE  TOPLEY. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  277 

ing  a  landlord  a  dollar,  any  more  than  if  he  had  never 
seen  him  !  If  he  were  asked  for  money,  he  would  imme 
diately  disappear,  and  try  another  house  in  the  same  place 
—  or  elsewhere. 

Pay  ?  Mose  Topley  pay  anybody  any  thing  ?  He  never 
dreamed  of  such  vulgar  nonsense  ! 

At  one  time,  in  his  later  experience,  Moses  was  said  to 
be  employed  by  an  Express  Company,  in  some  sort  of 
capacity  that  was  never  understood.  But,  through  some 
gerrymandering  process  or  other,  he  got  upon  the  blind 
side  of  one  of  the  leading  Directors  of  this  Company,  and 
he  played  the  amateur  Detective,  in  their  service,  for  a 
term  —  as  one  of  his  make-shifts. 

He  was  a  perambulating  human  mystery.  He  went  up 
and  down  from  Boston  and  New  York  to  Washington,  and 
South,  or  West.  But  what  he  did,  how  much  he  accom 
plished,  or  who  he  interfered  with  for  ten  years  (in  this 
last  mentioned  capacity),  was  never  discovered. 

u  What  do  you  pay  Mose,  for  this  service  ?  "  asked  a 
creditor  of  his  one  day,  of  one  of  the  Express  Company 
principals. 

"  Nothing,"  said  the  proprietor. 

"  Does  he  work  for  nothing  ?  " 

"  He  doesn't  work !  " 

"  He  is  in  your  employ  ?  " 

"  Is  he  ?  " 

"  I  hear  so,  sir." 

"  Who  told  you  that  ?  " 


278  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

44 1  don't  remember." 

44  If  he  is,  /don't  know  it." 

44  But  he  travels  for  you  ?  " 

44  Not  that  I  know  of." 

44  He  represents  you  —  en  route." 

44  Does  he  ?  " 

44  Yes,  sir." 

44  What  does  he  say  ?  " 

"  That  he  —  that  he  belongs  —  " 

"Well,  to  what?" 

44 1  declare  I  can't  say." 

44 Nor  I!" 

44  He's  a  very  queer  fellow." 

44  So  he  is." 

44  Owes  me  thirty  dollars." 

44  How  long  ?  " 

"  Over  a  year  I  " 

44  Loaned  ?  " 

44  Yes,  sir." 

44 1  wish  you  may  get  it." 

44  And  you  don't  owe  him  any  thing  ?  " 

44  Not  a  dime.     Never  did." 

44  It  is  a  strange  case." 

44  Very,"  said  the  Express  man. 

This  was  all  that  the  anxious  money-lender  who  had 
accommodated  Moses  could  learn  about  his  status,  in  that 
concern. 

And  still  Mose  went,  and  came. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  279 

Amongst  the  politicians,  Moses  somehow  made  himself 
a  marked  favorite.  Why,  no  man  could  say.  He  never 
cast  a  vote  in  his  life,  he  never  paid  a  poll-tax  anywhere, 
and  he  had  no  more  4  influence '  among  his  race  than  a 
house  cat. 

Yet  everybody  liked  Mose,  especially  in  Washington. 
He  was  intimate  in  the  Departments.  Went  in  and  out 
without  question  or  challenge  at  Committee-rooms,  at  the 
Capitol,  through  the  public  buildings,  the  White  House  — 
anywhere  —  as  freely  as  he  did  at  the  hotels,  the  restau 
rants  and  the  railway  stations. 

Moses  never  spoke  an  unkind  word  to  anybody,  and  no 
man  ever  uttered  an  offensive  word  to  him.  He  could  eat 
anybody's  bread,  drink  anybody's  wine,  or  smoke  anybody 
else's  cigars  —  save  his  own. 

For  that  matter,  he  never  had  any  thing  of  his  own. 
And  he  did  not  carry  with  him,  in  all  his  tens  of  thousands 
of  miles  of  journeying,  first  or  last  —  even  a  carpet-bag. 

44  A  queer  fellow  is  Mose  Topley,"  observed  a  Congress 
man  one  day  in  our  hearing,  in  Washington.  44  What  does 
he  do  ?  " 

44  Do  ?     Surely  you  ought  to  know." 

44  But  I  don't !  I've  known  him  here  and  elsewhere, 
now,  a  dozen  years.  But  I  never  knew  what  he  employed 
himself  about." 

44  He  doesn't  do  any  thing,  I  reckon." 

44  What  supports  him  ?  " 

44 1  don't  know." 


280  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

%t  Got  any  money  ?  " 

44 1  never  saw  him  with  a  shilling  in  his  possession,  in 
my  life." 

"  Singular." 

"  Very." 

44  We  all  tolerate  him,  here." 

"What  for?" 

"I  don't  know,  I'm  sure." 

44  Did  he  ever  do  any  thing  for  you  ?  " 

44  O,  no.     Mose  doesn't  hail  from  my  State." 

44  What  State  does  he  hail  from  ?  " 

'4  'Gad  !  I  don't  know  that.  But  I  know  he's  a  very 
clever  fellow  —  from  down  east,  I  hear." 

44  How  is  he  clever?  " 

44  Well,  'pon  my  word,  I  can't  say,  to  tell  the  truth." 

44  Then  you  don't  know  any  thing  about  him  ?  " 

44  No  —  that's  so.  But  I  return  your  query.  Do 
you  ?  " 

44  Not  a  syllable." 

44  Nor  any  one  else,  I  fancy.  He  is  a  very  mysterious 
personage." 

44  About  what  ?  " 

44 1  don't  know  that,  either." 

44  Do  you  know  any  one  who  does  know  ?  " 

44  Not  a  soul." 

44  Did  you  ever  hear  of  anybody  who  ever  heard  any  one 
else  say  they  knew  Mose  Topley  ?" 

44  Never ! " 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  281 

"  Thai;  will  do.  I  think  he  must  be  the  great  (or  small) 
4  Unknown  '  !  " 

This  was  precisely  what  resulted,  upon  inquiring  who 
this  strange  being  was,  of  anybody  —  anywhere. 

Moses  had  an  impressive  style  of  imparting  information 
(in  his  way)  to  those  who  were  curious  to  learri  what  his 


"IT'S  A   BIO  THING,  I  TELL  YOU." 

occupation  might  be,  or  what  were  his  mysterious  inten 
tions,  from  time  to  time.  But  he  never  accorded  any  one 
the  slightest  clew  to  his  actual  business,  his  purpose,  or  his 
designs  —  although  he  appeared  ready  always  -to  answer 
questions,  arid  pretended  in  the  most  off-hand  style,  to  be 
very  willing  to  "  tell  you  all  about  it.1' 


282  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

* 

"  It's  all  right,"  Mose  would  insist,  ambiguously,  but 
good-naturedly.  "  If  it  isn't,  we'll  make  it  right  in  the 
morning.  Somethin's  up.  /can  guess.  It'll  come  round, 
after  a  little.  I  know  what  I  know.  I'm  satisfied.  It's 
a  long  lane  'at  has  no  turn  in  it.  Never  you  mind.  It's 
a  big  thing,  I  tell  you,  but  I  can  swing  it.  You'll  see  —  " 
and  this  was  the  extent  of  all  that  could  be  gathered  from 
this  queer  biped,  regarding  himself  or  his  business  objects 
in  life. 

Still,  Moses  travelled  —  ate  and  drank,  in  Washington 
—  hob-nob'd  with  Senators  and  House  Members — knew 
every  man  worth  knowing,  from  the  Aroostook  to  San 
Francisco,  or  Oregon  —  and  always  went  and  came  with  a 
smiling  countenance  and  a  full  stomach. 

And  did  he  keep  his  secret  —  whatever  it  was  ? 

Well,  he  did  ! 

That  is  to  say,  for  years. 

But  finally  it  came  about  that  a  Congressional  investiga 
tion  was  inaugurated  in  Washington,  over  some  foggy 
peculation  that  was  turned  up  by  an  inquisitive  M.  C. 
who  "  didn't  know  Mose  Topley,"  (so  he  said)  "  from 
f our-an  d-ninepence . ' ' 

And  Moses'  name  was  found  upon  the  secret  pay-roll, 
i\ft  one  who  had  for  years  been  tugging  at  the  govern 
ment  teat  with  an  earnestness  that  proved  absolutely 
astounding ! 

A  mittimus  was  issued  for  the  arrest  of  poor  Mose 
Topley.  He  was  summoned  before  the  august  Committee, 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  283 

to  testify  who  he  was  —  where  he  belonged  —  what  he 
had  been  about  —  who  employed  him  —  how  much  Gov 
ernment  money  had  been  paid  him  —  what  he  did  with  his 
plunder  —  who  shared  it  with  him — and  what  his  myste 
rious  connections  were,  or  had  been,  with  all  the  honor 
able  gentlemen  with  whose  names  and  acts  Ms  name  thus 
came  to  be  so  singularly  associated.  And  all  these  several 
items  Moses  alone  could  explain,  it  was  asserted. 

"  We  shall  have  a  good  witness  in  Mose  Topley,"  sug 
gested  a  zealous  honorable  member,  who  had  half  un 
earthed  the  supposed  fraud  they  were  looking  into.  u  He 
will  tell  us  all  about  this  abuse.  And  thus  we  shall  '  kill 
two  birds  with  one  stone ; '  Mose  and  his  accomplices 
here." 

Did  the  authorities  find  him  ? 

Not  for  the  time  being. 

For  weeks  and  weeks,  Mose  Topley  had  business  in 
another  direction.  He  didn't  go  to  Washington,  now  I 
The  party  intrusted  with  the  legal  service  of  the  writ 
"  searched  for  a  needle  in  the  hay-mow." 

Moses  could  not  be  found. 

He  knew  they  were  after  him  ! 

How  did  he  know  this  ? 

Ah —  well.     Mose  had  his  friend  at  court. 

But  finally  they  collared  him.  And  Mose  went  de 
murely  to  the  capital,  and  then  before  the  Investigating 
Committee,  in  his  innocent  style. 

It  was  alleged  that  Moses  Topley  had  been  paid  over 


284  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  first  and  last,  out  of  the 
Treasury  till.  And  there  were  those  among  the  House 
members  (who  had  not  shared  with  Moses  any  of  this 
colossal  "  secret  gain  ")  who  were  so  impertinently  inquisi 
tive  as  to  be  desirous  to  know  something  in  detail  officially 
about  this  trifling  affair. 

So  they  openly  went  for  Moses,  (though,  sub  rosa,  they 
were  after  a  very  different  sort  of  man  !)  —  And  this  is 
what  they  gleaned  from  this  reliable  witness,  as  the  "  offi 
cial  report  "  of  the  examination  set  forth.  Moses  was 
placed  upon  the  stand. 

"  What  is  your  name,  witness  ?  " 

"  Moses." 

"  Topley  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.     Moses  Topley." 

44  What  is  your  business  ?" 

"  I'm  a  traveller." 

44  Traveller.     Commercial  ?  " 

44  No,  sir." 

44  What  then?" 

44  General." 

44  Brigadier?  "  asked  the  M.  C. 

44  No  sir.     General  traveller." 

44  Ah,  yes.     Who  employs  you  ?  " 

"  Nobody,  sir." 

44  How  do  you  travel,  then  ?  " 

44  By  rail,  mostly,  sir." 

44  Of  course.     I  mean  who  pays  your  expenses  ?  " 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  285 

"  I  do,  sir." 

"  Now,  witness  —  you  are  before  the  honorable  House 
Committee ;  and  you  must  answer  my  questions,  or  you 
will  be  held  in  contempt  by  this  Committee." 

"Well — don't  scare  me,  Sir!  I  will  answer — every 
time." 

"  So  you  have,  in  your  way." 

"  I  can't  answer  in  your  way,  Sir." 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because  I  don't  know  what  it  is  !  " 

"  Now  then,  Moses  —  Mr.  Topley  —  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Are  you  not  employed  by  the  Government  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

(Moses  had  taken  care,  under  advice  of  his  friend  at 
court,  to  resign  his  place,  two  weeks  previously.) 

"  You  are  not  thus  employed  ?  " 

"No,  sir." 

"This,  on  your  oath?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Has  not  your  name  been  carried  as  an  employe*  upon 
the  books  of  the  Treasury,  for  several  years  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  swear,  sir." 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  I  never  saw  the  Treasury  books." 

"  Has  not  the  Treasury  Department  paid  you,  in  the 
last  five  years,  some  two  hundred  and  thirty  thousand 
dollars,  in  cash,  Mr.  Topley  ?  " 


286        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"No,  «>/" 

"  Two  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Not  upwards  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  ?  " 

"  Not  one  dollar,  sir  !  " 

"  What  do  you  mean,  by  this  ?  " 

"  Just  what  I  say,  sir." 

"  Have  you  had  no  business  with  the  United  States 
Treasury,  in  all  those  years  ?  " 

"  O,  yes  sir." 

"  Ah.     Well  —  what  was  it  ?  " 

"  Secret,  sir." 

"  Secret,  there.     But  not  here,  sir." 

"  Everywhere,  sir." 

"  I  insist  upon  an  answer,  witness." 

"  I  have  replied  that  I  have  had  business  there." 

"  Now  —  they  paid  you  many  thousands  of  dollars  ?  " 

"  No,  sir —  never." 

"What  then?" 

"  I  paid  them  thousands." 

"How?" 

"  In  cash,  sir." 

"  Where  did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  tell.     It  would  be  impossible,  sir." 

"  Why  so  ?  " 

"  Because  I  keep  no  books,  and  can't  remember." 

"  What  source,  or  sources,  did  this  large  amount  of 
money  come  from  ?  " 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  287 

"  I  cannot  inform  you,  sir." 

"  Why  not  ?  " 

"  Because  I  say  I  don't  know." 

"  What  was  the  aggregate  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  remember." 

"  What  is  an  approximation  to  the  amount  ?  " 

"  I  don't  recollect." 

"  How  near  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  ?" 

"  I  couldn't  say,  sir." 

"  Less  than  that  sum  ?  " 

"  I  can't  swear." 

"  More  than  that,  Mr.  Topley  ?  " 

"  I  couldn't  tell." 

"  Was  it  one  hundred  thousand  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"  Was  it  fifty  thousand  ?  " 

"  I  am  unable  to  state." 

"  Yet  it  was  some  thousands  ?  " 

"  It  might  be,  sir." 

"  Not  hundreds  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  positive." 

"  Now,  Mr.  Topley  —  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Who  else  did  you  pay  money  to  ?  " 

"  What  money,  sir  ?  " 

"  This  money  we  have  inquired  about  ?  " 

"  To  nobody." 

"  You  paid  nobody  but  the  Treasury  Department  ?  " 


288  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Not  of  that  money." 

"  I  ask  you  if  you  paid  no  one  else  but  the  Treasury, 
during  that  time  ?  " 

"  And  I  answer,  of  that  money,  no  sir." 

"  Of  any  money,  sir  ?  " 

"  Oh  —  yes.  I  paid  out  other  money.  My  own  money 
—  of  course  —  in  all  that  time." 

"  Exactly.     Now,  sir  —  to  whom  ?  " 

"  I  can  only  speak  from  recollection,  sir.  I  keep  no 
books." 

"  Well,  from  your  best  recollection,  to  whom  ?  " 

"  My  board  bill,  to  Mr.  Jones  —  " 

"  No  trifling,  Mr.  Topley." 

"  My  washerwoman  —  " 

"  Stop,  sir !  To  whom  did  you  pay  two-and-twenty 
thousand  dollars,  in  cash,  at  Boston  or  New  York,  on  a 
certain  day  in  July  ?  '' 

"  Nobody,  sir !  " 

"  Eighteen  thousand,  then  ?  " 

"  No  one,  sir." 

"  Did  you  pay  no  one  such  a  sum,  or  about  that  sum  ?" 

"  Not  that  I  remember." 

"  Or  fifteen  thousand  ?  " 

"  I  can't  recall  it,  sir." 

"  Or  twelve  thousand  ?  " 

"  I  wouldn't  swear,  sir." 

"  Why  not,  Mr.  Topley?  "  thundered  the  enraged  Com 
mittee  man,  bringing  his  fist  down  with  a  crash  upon  the 
table. 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  289 

41  Because  I  don't  recollect,  sir,"  said  Moses,  with  a 
complacent  smile,  that  strangely  contrasted  with  the  irate 
Congressman's  show  of  choler. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Topley,  you  are  evading  the  object  of  this 
investigation,  evidently." 

44  I  do  not  intend  this,  sir." 

"  You  know  why  you  are  before  this  Committee,  of 
course,  Mr.  Topley  ?  " 

"  O  yes,  sir.  I  think  I  do,"  replied  Moses,  with  a 
very  sly  wink  at  another  member  of  this  Committee,  with 
whom  he  was  familiarly  acquainted. 

"  Well,  sir  —  what  do  you  think  we  sit  here  for?  " 

"I  don't  wish  to  be  considered  in  contempt,  sir — in 
my  answer,  if  you  please  —  but  I  think  it  is  for  about  ten 
or  twelve  dollars  a  day,  and  mileage." 

A  slight  titter  might  have  been  noticed,  at  this  juncture, 
among  all  the  honorable  Committee,  with  the  exception  of 
the  burly  gentleman  who  conducted  the  examination. 
But  Moses  was  clearly  "  one  too  many  "  for  him  ! 

44  You  say  you  know  why  you  are  summoned  here,  Mr. 
Topley  ?  "  continued  the  M.  C.,  changing  his  tactics. 

44  Yes,  sir." 

44  Have  you  given  us  all  the  information  upon  the  sub 
ject-matter  under  consideration  now  before  the  House 
Committee,  that  is  in  your  possession  ?  " 

44 1  have  answered  all  your  questions,  to  the  best  of 
my  recollection,  sir.  You  might  ask  me  more  —  if  you 
like —  "  said  Moses,  demurely. 


290        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  That  will  do,  Mr.  Topley.  You  can  step  down,"  said 
the  baffled  M.  C. 

Moses  stepped  down,  and  out,  accordingly.  And  by 
the  very  first  train  that  left  the  capital  afterwards,  he  quit 
Washington,  and  the  Congressional  Investigating  Commit 
tee;  who,  as  it  will  be  seen,  did  not  extort  the  first  syllable 
out  of  this  witness,  implicating  any  one  ! 

Moses  hastened  vigorously  to  the  DdpSt.  The  last  train 
for  the  day  was  just  about  to  leave  for  the  north,  and  Top- 
ley  was  desirous  to  avail  himself  of  his  opportunity.  He 


"  UNCLE  SAM  "  GOES  FOR  MOSE  TOPLEY. 

had  not  chanced  to  see  the  dog  during  his  present  brief 
visit  to  the  Capitol,  but  the  brute  saw  him  rushing  down 
the  street  towards  the  station  in  hot  haste,  and  "  Uncle 
Sam  "  went  for  Moses,  upon  general  principles. 

Mr.  Topley  increased  his  speed  to  the  uttermost,  for  he 
heard  the  last  bell  clanging  in  the  station,  where  the  cars 
were  just  about  to  start.  He  made  a  short  cut  and  very 
good  time  —  as  he  went.  And  the  dog  followed  him  as 
closely  as  his  short  stout  legs  would  permit. 

Moses  saw  "  Uncle  Sam  "  at  his  heels,  suddenly,  and  he 


HOW    TO    MAKE   IT. 


291 


did  his  level  best  to  leave  him  in  the  rear.  It  was  "  nip 
an'  tuck,"  but  Mr.  Topley  won.  He  dashed  away  with 
"  Uncle  Sam  "  sharply  upon  his  coat-tails. 

With  one  bound  he  vaulted  over  the  high  picket-railing 
near  the  Depot  —  and  saved  the  train,  as  it  was  moving 
out  of  the  station,  for  Baltimore  ;  the  dog  having  missed 
him  in  this  final  spurt,  about 4  three  feet,  as  the  fleeing 


MOSES  GOES  FOR  THE  LAST  TRAIN  —  A2O)  SAVES  IT! 

object  of  his  aversion  went  heels  over  head  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  excited  beast's  open  jaws. 

Now  the  simple  fact  in  Mose  Topley's  case,  on  this  occa 
sion,  was  that  under  the  old  law  he  had  quietly  collected 
two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  '  moities,'  and  he  had  paid 
one  half  this  sum  into  the  Treasury.  The  other  half 
"  went  to  the  informer  "  under  the  law  of  1799,  giving  to 
these  political  bummers  the  lion's  share  of  all  they  could 


292  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

beat  the  merchants  and  manufacturers  of  this  country  out 
of,  who  chanced  to  have  committed  any  '  little  irregulari 
ties  '  in  dodging  their  revenue  obligations. 

Thus  Moses  Topley  made  his  hundred  thousand  dollars 
in  gold  —  in  a  very  few  short  years. 

But  he  never  worked  an  hour  in  his  life  for  it.  There 
is  little  need  to  caution  the  reader  against  attempting 
this  mode  to  make  a  fortune,  since  the  law  has  been 
repealed,  and  there  is  no  likelihood  that  a  similar  oppor 
tunity  will  occur,  in  this  country,  to  heap  up  money. 

At  all  events,  there  are  no  Mose  Topleys  about,  just 
now,  that  we  wot  of.  If  there  be  any  such,  that  we  have 
not  met  with  —  we  advise  them  in  all  candor  to  seek  out 
some  honest  employment,  and  turn  their  attention  to  work, 
and  reform,  without  procrastination. 

For,  as  a  good  author  has  it,  "  if  you  ask  me  what  is 
the  hereditary  sin  of  human  nature,  I  answer  not  pride, 
ambition,  or  egotism  —  but  indolence."  He  who  will  con 
quer  indolence,  may  conquer  all  the  rest.  Get  work ! 
And  be  sure  this  is  better  than  all  you  work  to  get. 

In  the  past  score  of  years,  there  have  been  several  Mose 
Topleys  thus  employed  by  the  Government,  secretly  —  all 
of  whom  have  realized  fortunes,  at  the  expense  of  careless 
American  merchants  in  high  standing,  who  have  been 
fearfully  mulcted,  or  blackmailed,  by  these  over-indulged 
secret  agents  of  the  Treasury  —  as  the  official  records 
show,  conclusively. 

Congress  "repealed  the  old  moities  law,  at  a  late  session. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  293 

and  the  lucrative  but  indolent  occupation  of  these  gentry 
was  supposed  to  have  gone  up.  The  original  operators 
resigned,  and  the  work  of  smuggling  and  defrauding  the 
national  revenue  goes  on,  again. 

There  ought  to  be  a  cure  for  this  public  wrong  and  plun 
dering.  But  our  wise  men  have  not  yet  concluded  if  the 
old  or  the  new  mode  of  checking  this  grievous  offending 
is  best.  Who  can  suggest  a  rightful,  just,  and  efficacious 
remedy  for  this  glaring  evil  ? 

We  have  thus  given  a  partial  history  of  certain  repre 
sentative  characters  within  our  acquaintance  who  com 
menced  their  careers  without  ready  capital;  who  in  the 
main,  as  far  as  portrayed,  got  upon  the  right  road  to  for 
tune.  We  will  now  show  what  became  of  these  diligent 
followers  of  the  true  course  of  action  towards  success. 

Mose  Topley  whom  we  have  mentioned  by  way  of 
contrast  to  these  examples,  was  the  exception  to  our  pro 
posed  rule  ;  and  his  success  simply  verifies  the  assertion 
that  it  occasionally  falls  to  the  lot  of  the  indolent  and 
unworthy  to  become  suddenly  rich  —  through  covert  and 
disreputable  means. 

Mose  may  still  be  living,  and  his  gains  are  supposed  to 
have  been  duly  "  salted  down."  But,  as  no  one  ever  yet 
knew  when  he  had  a  dollar,  so  none  will  ever  know  here 
after  where  his  plunder  is  located,  how  much  or  how  little 
he  really  gathered,  or  who  helped  him  to  stow  it  away  I 
And  here  we  leave  Moses  to  his  "  mysterious  "  reflections. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

TWO   CLEAR   HEADS   SOMETIMES   BETTER   THAN  ONE. 

IN  our  preceding  chapters,  we  have  detailed  the  events 
that  followed  each  other  in  the  lives  of  our  heroes,  during 
a  series  of  years  when  they  were  actively  employed  in 
working  out  their  several  destinies  through  a  course  of 
aptly  chosen  and  well-directed  effort  in  the  right  direction, 
each,  to  compass  a  fortune. 

And  by  way  of  comparison,  we  have  described  the 
career  of  one  or  two  other  representative  characters,  whose 
fate  has  been  recorded  as  a  warning  against  a  dishonorable 
pursuit  of  riches. 

We  now  continue  our  narrative  towards  the  record  of 
subsequent  particulars  occurring  in  the  history  of  the  par 
ties  in  whom  we  are  more  directly  interested,  and  whose 
aims  continued  laudably  towards  realizing  a  fortune  in  an 
honorable  manner,  as  their  efforts  had  constantly  been 
directed,  from  the  outset — as  we  have  already  explained. 

Six  years  had  passed,  since  Fred  Fordham,  Fannie's  hus 
band  had  visited  his  "  uncle  Isaacs  "  hopefully  one  morn 
ing,  with  the  wedding-jewelry  of  his  young  wife  in  his 

294 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  295 

hands,  which  amidst  the  panic  of  '37  he  was  compelled  to 
dispose  of  for  a  third  of  its  cost,  to  obtain  temporary  relief 
from  pressing  want. 

In  that  half  a  dozen  years,  Fred,  like  his  other  compan 
ions  in  penury,  had  gone  to  work  again,  at  a  reduced  salary 
at  first ;  but  he  had  toiled  early  and  late  at  his  profession 
of  bookkeeper,  since  then,  for  a  sustenance  for  himself  and 
his  little  family,  and  had  latterly  done  satisfactorily  well. 

Fannie  had  not  been  idle,  in  the  mean  time.  She  had 
two  babies  to  care  for,  and  her  household  duties  for  a 
time,  were  quite  sufficient  for  one  pair  of  hands,  in  all  con 
science  !  But  she  was  more  ambitious  than  many  young 
women  similarly  conditioned,  and  she  insisted  upon  help 
ing  Fred  out,  in  his  strait  —  though  he  realized  how  she 
taxed  her  energies,  and  would  gladly  have  had  things 
otherwise. 

But  Fannie  was  too  willing,  too  stout  of  heart,  and  too 
strong  in  bodily  health  fortunately  —  either  to  give  way  to 
despondency,  or  to  halt  in  her  good  intentions  to  share  in 
making  the  fortune  that  Fred  had  always  promised  him 
self —  sooner  or  later. 

"  Bless  you,  Fred,"  the  hard-working  wife  would  say, 
when  the  kindly-disposed  husband  besought  her  to  favor 
herself,  "  I  never  am  so  happy  in  my  life,  as  when  I  find 
full  occupation  for  my  time." 

"  I  know  it,  Fannie.  But  if  you  toil  so  hard,  and  stick 
to  it  so  incessantly,  you'll  break  down,  deary." 

"  Break  down,"  exclaimed  Fannie,  cheerily,  "  Not  a  bit 


296  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

of  it,  Fred.  I  am  stronger  than  ever  I  was.  And  I  get 
along  splendidly." 

"  Your  earnings  don't  accumulate  very  rapidly,  my 
dear,  nevertheless ! " 

"  What  do  you  know  about  that,  Fred  ?  "  asked  his 
wife,  with  a  knowing  smile. 

"  I  know  very  well  that  the  pay  you  receive  for  your 
work  can't  reach  a  very  formidable  sum,  in  the  aggregate 
—  at  the  best.  And  you've  now  been  at  it  five  years  — 
day  and  night  —  most  of  the  time,  that  is  certain.  With 
my  present  income  and  prospects,  I  don't  want  you  to 
labor  in  this  way.  And  there  is  no  need  of  it,  Fannie." 

"Well.  Go  on  with  your  'prospects,'  Fred.  \ou  are 
doing  well  enough,  now,  —  and  so  am  I.  We  shall  conquer 
fortune,  in  time.  While  we  both  have  health,  strength, 
youth,  and  good  heart,  is  the  time  to  make  the  most  of  our 
opportunity." 

"  That  is  true.     I  shall  do  my  part,  Fannie  —  " 

"  And  I  will  do  mine,  too.  Now,  Fred,  how  much  money 
have  I  saved  out  of  my  own  earnings,  do  you  think,  since 
I  obtained  the  regular  work  sent  to  the  house  and  taken 
away  so  unostentatiously  by  Messrs.  Godfrey  &  Co.  ?  " 
asked  the  wife,  cheerfully. 

"Well,  it  can't  be  much,  at  all  events,"  responded 
Fred.  "  And  you've  been  hard  at  it,  off  and  on,  almost 
half  a  dozen  years,  Fannie." 

"  Yes.  So  I  have.  Now,  how  much  cash  do  you  think 
I've  got  in  Bank,  and  at  interest  ?  " 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


297 


Fred  laughed  a  merry  laugh,  at  this  query,  and  ex 
claimed  — 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  don't  know,  Fannie.     But  —  " 

"  Guess,  now,  Fred." 

"  Five  years  —  at  embroidering  and  crocheting.  Well, 
two  or  three  hundred  dollars,  may  be.  They  have  paid 


HOW  FANNIE   FORDHAM  DID  IT. 


good  prices,  I  know.  And  you  have  given  them  some 
nice  work,  too." 

Then  Fannie  laughed,  in  turn. 

"  In  the  last  three  years  you  know  Fred,  I've  kept  help. 
You  have  accorded  me  a  generous  allowance  for  house 
expenses,  and  we  have  lived  very  economically,  remem 
ber." 


298        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

u  Yes.  But  it  was  your  earnings  we  were  speaking  of, 
Fannie." 

"  I  know.  Yet  a  penny  saved,  is  twopence  earned, 
you  will  allow." 

"  Well  —  savings  and  earnings  ?  " 

"Yes.     How  much?" 

"  You  may  have  more  than  three  hundred,  then,  deary. 
At  least  I  hope  so,"  returned  Fred,  kindly. 

"  Six  times  three  hundred,  Fred  !  " 

"  Eighteen  hundred  dollars ! "  exclaimed  Fred,  sur 
prised,  though  he  was  aware  that  Fannie  had  been  very 
economical,  and  knew  she  had  her  private  account  in  two 
good  Savings  Banks,  at  least. 

"  Over  two  thousand  dollars,  Fred  of  my  own,"  ex 
claimed  Fannie,  triumphantly. 

"  That  really  astonishes  me,  my  dear." 

"  Much  of  it  I  have  saved,  Fred,  in  housekeeping.  But, 
half  of  it  I  have  earned  with  these  fingers,  my  love." 

"  You  have  been  busy,  I  am  well  aware.  Now,  if  you 
are  so  rich,  you  must  take  a  rest.  I  insist." 

"  Not  yet,  Fred.  By  and  by,  when  you  come  to  be  a 
partner  with  Messrs.  Dowell,  Brol  hers  —  as  you  say  they 
have  promised  you  you  shall  be  —  then  I  will  4  play  lady  ' 
on  a  moderate  scale ;  for  this  will  be  a  grand  opening  for 
you." 

Fannie  went  right  along,  and  so  did  Fred.  Twelve 
months  afterwards,  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  he 
had  served  faithfully  for  seven  long  years.  And  in  a  few 


.Morris  Deans  was  a  good  angler,  and  fond  of  this  pastime.  Miss  Eunice  sometimes 
accompanied  her  friend  —  but  the  contented  twain  never  talked  of  love,  during  these 
pleasant  woodland  excursions  —  so  enjoyable  to  both.  [CHAP.  xvi.  page  L'o'J. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  301 

years  more,  he  had  a  snug  fortune  of  his  own,  as  it  event 
uated.  But  it  had  been  up-hill  work,  in  his  case  —  though 
he  accomplished  his  aim  at  last,  honorably  and  satisfac 
torily. 

-  Frank  Meyers  had  saved  most  of  his  ample  salary, 
which  was  eight  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  at  last. — 
And  what  with  the  rent  of  his  four  brick  houses  in  New 
York,  and  the  interest  upon  his  subsequently  carefully 
invested  and  well-secured  money-loans,  he  too  had  gone 
onward  and  upward  rapidly  in  fortune,  in  the  later  years. 

Reuben  Downer,  the  once  pennyless  printer,  had  carried 
the  regular  issues  of  his  popular  weekly  "  Leader  "  up  to 
an  immense  circulation ;  and  his  current  wholesale  cash 
receipts  from  the  news-agents  who  took  his  heavy  editions 
off  his  hands  as  fast  as  issued  (in  addition  to  a  generous 
mail-subscription  list,)  gave  him  a  splendid  and  certain 
income  in  ready  money. 

He  was  able  to  purchase  more  fancy  horses,  which  was 
one  of  his  enjoyable  hobbies,  and  he  paid  enormous  prices 
for  them,  when  he  'lighted  upon  those  that  could  make 
better  trotting  time  than  those  he  had.  To-day,  Mr. 
Downer's  less  than  a  dozen  choice  animals  have  cost  him 
over  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  cash !  And  they 
are  the  fastest  in  the  world. 

During  these  six  years,  Morris  Deans,  the  former  Boston 
broker's  lad,  had  been  steadily  progressing  at  '  Sunnyside,' 
where  the  advantages  afforded  him  by  Farmer  Blount  in 
the  later  half  of  this  term,  enabled  him  to  lay  by  several 


302        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

thousand  dollars ;  since,  as  Mr.  Blotint  grew  more  ad 
vanced  in  life,  after  he  made  himself  acquainted  with 
Morris's  rare  good  qualities,  the  old  man  gave  up  the 
financial  management  of  the  great  stock  farm,  almost 
exclusively  to  his  young  friend's  discretion. 

With  the  prudent  and  skilful  manipulation  of  Blount's 
affairs  upon  the  farm  by  Deans,  the  proprietor  made 
money  far  more  rapidly  —  though  still  legitimately —  than 
he  had  ever  begun  to  do,  himself. 

Morris  was  active,  earnest,  ambitious,  and  deeply  de 
voted  to  his  work  there  ;  and  at  length  becoming  person 
ally  interested  in  the  results,  he  wrought  assiduously  for 
his  employer's  benefit,  while  he  shared  in  the  gains  indi 
vidually,  upon  his  own  account.  So  that  while  he  made 
money  for  Blount,  he  amassed  it  for  himself,  also  ;  and 
both  were  amply  content  with  this  arrangement. 

When  Morris  received  his  five-and-twenty  thousand 
dollars  in  ready  cash  from  Downer,  for  the  splendid 
Morgan  trotter  he  sold  him  in  New  York,  this  set  the  lad 
up  fairly. 

He  had  already  accumulated  some  fifteen  thousand 
dollars,  during  his  term  in  Blount's  service  previously,  and 
his  surplus  was  duly  invested  at  paying  interest ;  which 
increased  in  good  time,  advantageously,  while  he  continued 
on  in  his  farm-stock  operations,  in  the  customary  profitable 
and  sure  way. 

David  Morehead  also  moved  along  upon  the  old  place 
he  came  into  possession  of  from  the  long  since  dead 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  30o 

Grimes,  and  still  the  keen  New  Hampshire  live  stock 
seller  continued  to  coin  money. 

Polly  proved  a  faithful  good  wife  to  David,  and  she 
never  had  cause  for  regret  that  she  accepted  the  bluff 
offer  of  her  good-hearted  drover-husband  and  married  him, 
at  such  brief  notice.  The  worn-out  farm  was  brought  up 
into  good  condition,  and  David  lived  a  happy  contented 
prosperous  life  with  his  chosen  Polly  White. 

And  Ely  Hawes,  the  studious  inventor,  was  now  perma 
nently  in  New  York,  engaged  in  furthering  his  interests 
with  his  finally  patented  Bank-Safe  lock,  aided  by  the 
counsel  and  suggestions  and  ready  means,  (whenever 
these  were  needed,)  of  his  early  friend  Frank  Meyers. 

Through  the  advice  of  the  latter,  and  the  freely  accord 
ed  assistance  of  Reuben  Downer,  subsequently,  Ely  had 
left  New  England  and  settled  in  New  York  city  —  where 
he  went  to  work  in  earnest  to  put  his  invention  upon  the 
market. 

He  found  the  competition  in  this  particular  branch  of 
mechanical  trade  very  lively,  in  Gotham  !  The  famous 
Hobbs'  Lock,  the  Eastman  Lock,  Hall's  Combination 
Lock,  and  others  held  the  market  —  and  very  deservedly 
—  at  that  period. 

Ely's  invention  was  an  innovation.  All  these  men  had 
passed  through  the  same  ordeal  which  Hawes  had  latterly 
and  previously  experienced,  in  his  efforts  to  get  before  the 
public.  They  were  not  disturbed  by  any  professed  nov 
elty  that  came  up,  in  their  line,  and  took  little  heed  of 


304  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN    GOLD. 

the  squibs  that  found  their  way  from  time  to  time  into 
the  columns  of  the  daily  papers,  through  Reuben  Downer's 
management,  in  his  friend  Ely's  behalf. 

Reuben  thoroughly  understood  the  value  of  printer's 
ink.  He  "  had  been  there,"  and  knew  how  to  do  this 
kind  of  thing,  as  well  as  any  man  living. 

"I've  got  a  good  thing  here,  Reuben,"  so  Ely  insisted. 

"  I  know  you  have,  my  dear  fellow,"  responded  Downer, 
when  they  were  discussing  the  merits  of  the  poor  invent 
or's  lock.  "  But  what  is  the  use  of  having  a  '  good 
thing '  of  this  sort,  which  you  want  everybody  to  know 
something  of,  if  you  keep  it  all  to  yourself  ?  You  must 
advertise  it,  my  boy.  Tell  the  public  what  you've  got, 
and  keep  telling  them  of  it.  Insist  upon  it,  in  the  daily 
papers.  Talk  it  right  out,  briefly,  sharply,  to  the  point, 
judiciously  and  honestly.  And  the  '  children  will  cry  for 
it,'  you  see,  long  before  you  have  a  supply  commensurate 
with  the  demand  that  will  ensue  for  this  admirable  inven 
tion." 

"  I  reckon  you're  about  right,  Reuben." 

"  I  know  I'm  right,  Ely.  I  can't  do  much  for  you  in 
the  Leader,  because  I  don't  advertise  for  anybody,  in 
my  own  paper.  But  I  can  fix  it  for  you,  in  other  chan 
nels,  where  it  will  do  you  good." 

"  Thank  you,  Reuben.  When  you  can  do  so,  remember 
me.  You're  rich.  I  shall  be  so,  one  o'  these  days." 

Within  a  week,  a  half  column  advertisement  appeared 
one  day  in  the  daily  Tribune,  Herald  and  Sun,  in  these 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  305 

words  —  repeated  over  and  over,  forty  times  —  in  a  single 
line,  each  — 

"GET  HAWES'  NEW  BANK-SAFE  LOCK!" 

"  Get  Hawes1  new  Bank-safe  Lock! !  " 
"  Get  Hawes'  new  Bank-safe  Lock ! ! !  " 

"THIS    IS    THE    ONLY    IMPENETRABLE    SAFE  LOCK  !  " 

"  This  is  the  only  Impenetrable  Safe  Lock! !  " 
"  This  is  the  only  Impenetrable  Safe  Lock ! ! !  " 

"ABSOLUTELY  BURGLAR  PROOF  —  is  HAWES'  NEW  LOCK!" 
"  Absolutely  Burglar  Proof — is  Hawes'  new  Lock! I" 
"  Absolutely  Burglar  Proof —  is  Hawes'  new  Lock  ! ! !  " 

Ely  was  vastly  surprised  at  this  announcement.  He 
did  not  know  where  it  originated,  at  first.  Frank  Meyers 
explained  it  to  him.  The  public  were  on  the  qui  vive, 
directly. 

The  merchants,  bankers,  railroad  directors,  factors,  store 
keepers,  everybody  who  read  the  three  great  daily  New 
York  papers,  were  at  once  set  agog  at  meeting  with  this 
advertisement. 

"  Who  is  Hawes  ?  " 

"  What  is  this  new  invention?  " 

"  Let  us  see  the  Impenetrable  Safe  lock ! "  ejaculated 
hundreds  of  people,  at  once. 

Letters  of  inquiry  poured  in  upon  Ely  by  the  dozen, 
within  ten  days.  Orders  came  by  scores  —  with  the  pro 
viso  "  if  it  is  what  you  represent  it  to  be,  Mr.  Hawes." 

The  old  safe-lock  inventors  were  now  the  most  excited 
and  anxions.  "  This  fellow  Hawes  is  either  a  charlatan, 
or  else  he  knows  his  biz  '  —  "  they  said. 


306        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

And  Ely  went  right  on,  from  that  day,  forward. 

The  manufacturers  of  Safes  went  after  Mr.  Ely  Hawes. 
They  examined  his  new  patent  Lock,  as  Frank  Meyers 
had  done.  And  all  united,  with  universal  accord,  to  admit 
that  it  was  a  rare  thing. 

"  You  did  me  a  lively  good  turn,  Reuben,  that's  a  fact," 
said  Ely,  gratefully,  when  he  met  Downer  a  week  or  two 
after  this  queer  advertisement  appeared  in  the  dailies. 

"  That's  what  I  intended  to  do,  my  boy,"  responded 
Reuben.  "  How  are  you  making  it  ?  " 

"  Splendidly.  Got  more  orders  than  I  know  what  to 
do  with,  Reuben." 

"  Go  ahead.     You're  on  the  right  road,  Ely." 

"  Thanks  to  you  and  to  Frank  Meyers  —  " 

"  No  !  Thanks  to  your  own  talents,  skill,  industry,  and 
perseverance,  my  good  fellow,"  insisted  Downer.  "  This 
other  is  but  collateral.  You  have  got  a  grand  thing  here. 
I  know  it.  All  you  needed  to  do,  was  to  let  the  people 
know  what  you  and  I  know  about  it.  Go  ahead,  then, 
and  make  your  hundred  thousand  dollars,  now —  off  hand, 
Ely." 

"  I  will,  Reuben.  But  the  first  thing  I  make,  will  be 
the  best  vault-safe  that  iron,  steel  and  my  ingenuity  can 
compass  —  to  be  secured  with  my  Patent  Impenetrable 
Lock  —  for  your  use.  And  if  you  don't  accept  it  as  a  free 
gift,  Reuben,  to  remember  grateful  Ely  Hawes  by  —  don't 
you  ever  call  me  your  friend  again,"  returned  Ely,  thank 
fully. 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  307 

"  All  right,  my  boy.  But,  safe  or  no  safe,  I  will  do  you 
good  every  time,  whenever  it  comes  in  my  way — be  sure 
of  it.  I  was  a  poor  hard-working  lad  once,  myself,"  con 
cluded  Reuben. 

This  safe  was  ordered  directly  by  Ely,  of  a  leading  man 
ufacturer  who  had  been  latterly  negotiating  with  Hawes 
for  placing  some  of  his  new  locks  upon  them,  after  he  had 
thoroughly  examined  the  ingenious  device  of  the  youthful 
inventor,  whose  prospects  now  began  to  look  highly  prom 
ising. 

The  Institute  Fair  was  to  come  off  in  a  few  days,  and 
Ely  had  four  safes  ready,  with  his  new  patent  lock  at 
tached  to  them,  for  competitive  exhibition  during  the  con 
tinuance  of  the  show. 

All  the  old  inventors  had  samples  of  their  locks  entered 
at  this  exhibition,  also.  And  there  was  a  deal  of  lively 
speculation  as  to  who  would  probably  win  the  Associa 
tion's  first  Gold  Medal  there. 

We  will  learn  in  detail  what  the  character  of  this  inter 
esting  competition  was  to  be,  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

EVERY  MAN  THE   ARCHITECT  OF   HIS   OWN   FORTUNE. 

INVENTION,  says  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  is,  strictly  speak 
ing,  "  little  more  than  a  new  combination  of  those  images 
which  have  been  previously  gathered  and  deposited  in  the 
memory.  Nothing  can  be  made  of  nothing"  And  so  he 
who  has  laid  up  no  material  in  his  brain,  can  produce  no 
combinations. 

It  is  also  truly  said  that  all  originality  is  but  undiscov 
ered  plagiarism.  Still,  modern  invention  is  activity  of 
the  mind,  as  fire  is  air  in  motion ;  a  sharpening  of  the 
spiritual  or  intellectual  sight,  to  discern  hidden  aptitudes. 

This  was  what  Ely  Hawes  had  accomplished.  He  had 
had  his  intellect  sharpened  through  study,  application  and 
determination  to  realize  a  certain  object,  which  had  been 
the  purpose  of  his  life. 

And  he  had  produced  what  —  if  it  were  not  an  origi 
nality  in  invention,  or  combination  —  was  at  least  a  cun 
ning  device  that  was  entirely  novel ;  and  the  plagiarism 
(if  it  were  such)  had  never  yet  been  discovered  by  any 
other  modern  mechanic. 

308 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  309 

Tfye  complete  design  of  Ely  Hawes  consisted  of  his 
lock  itself,  his  mode  of  attaching  it  to  the  Safe,  his  peculiar 
manner  of  locking  it,  and  the  application  of  the  secret 
spring  for  the  self-closing  outer  casing. 

It  was  in  no  wise  complicated.  Its  very  simplicity  wa3 
its  chief  recommendation.  And  yet  it  was  varied  in  its 
arrangement,  upon  each  individual  safe. 

Thus,  no  two  door-safes  opened  through  the  self-acting 
spring  being  placed  in  the  same  position.  One  would 
have  this  attachment  affixed  underneath  the  bottom  of  the 
safe  ;  another  at  the  back  ;  a  third  on  one  or  other  side  ; 
a  fourth  in  either  corner ;  a  fifth  half  way  up,  on  either 
side,  or  back  —  and  otherwise. 

By  this  mode,  no  man  owning  one  Safe  could  know 
where  or  how  this  secret  spring  was  attached  upon 
another  man's  safe  ;  and  it  was  thus  not  easily  found,  by 
a  stranger  to  the  particular  safe  not  in  his  own  possession. 

The  casing  was  entirely  plain,  and  all  four  sides  were 
exactly  alike  ;  a  simple  square  iron  box,  to  look  at  —  when 
closed.  No  indication  was  in  view  that  pointed  to  the  spot 
which  must  be  known,  and  manipulated,  to  cause  this  outer 
casing  to  open,  when  in  position.  Upon  a  proper  move 
ment,  at  the  end  of  this  secretly-placed  spring,  the  outer 
door  of  the  safe  gently  slided  open  of  itself. 

But  even  this  device  was  varied  in  construction,  differ 
ently  upon  each  safe.  It  was  thus  acted  on  by  a  con 
cealed  lever,  by  a  strong  spiral  or  curved  spring,  by  a 
simple  pressure  upon  the  point,  or  otherwise.  And  this 


310  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS   IN   GOLD. 

particular  form  of  operation,  or  concealment,  was  made 
known  only  to  the  party  who  purchased  a  particular  safe. 

When  this  outer  door  opened,  the  safe  itself  was  seen 
within  this  casing ;  upon  the  inside  of  the  door  of  which 
interior  portion,  the  Impenetrable  Lock  was  attached. 
All  that  was  now  to  be  seen  here,  different  from  the  plain 
outside  formation,  was  a  stout  polished  steel  protuberance, 
having  the  appearance  of  a  common  door-knob ;  which, 
upon  handling,  turned  round  freely,  in  its  closely  fitted 
socket  —  during  which  rotary-motion,  a  slight  click-click 
could  be  heard,  like  the  ticking  of  a  large  clock. 

This  was  all  that  was  visible. 

Within,  however  —  this  easily  turned  knob  acted  upon 
the  machinery  of  che  lock'  in  a  secret  way ;  which  when 
shut,  it  was  simply  impossible  to  unlock,  without  the 
secret  key  to  its  closing. 

This  outer  knob  acted  upon  the  lock  through  its  stout 
steel  shaft,  but  its  position  outside  was  no  indication 
pointing  to  the  exact  spot  inside  where  the  lock  itself  was 
attached.  It  was  above,  or  below,  or  directly  back  of 
this  spot,  on  different  safes. 

There  was  no  seam  or  cavity  to  be  found,  (so  nicely 
were  all  the  parts  put  together)  into  which  the  finest 
grains  of  powder  could  be  pricked,  or  thrust.  And  thus  it 
was  proof  against  being  blown  open,  by  the  evil-disposed. 

This,  briefly,  was  Ely's  invention.  And  he  claimed  that 
it  was  just  what  he  had  christened  his  safe-lock,  "  impene 
trable,"  without  his  key  to  it. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  311 

When  the  friendly  advertisement  of  Downer  appeared 
in  the  New  York  dailies,  the  inventors  and  manufacturers 
of  former  styles  of  bank  and  safe  locks  —  and  there  were 
two  or  three  popular  ones,  which  had  for  some  years  been 
in  use  —  became  seriously  exercised. 

Some  scouted  the  idea  which  this  novel  announcement 
conveyed.  Others  declared  it  to  be  a  sham.  And  other* 
claimed  that  their  locks  "  advertised  themselves  "  —  which 
was  far  better  than  resorting  to  the  aid  of  the  newspapers 
—  which  they  did  not  find  occasion  to  do. 

But  all  these  gentlemen  were  desirous  to  know  what 
this  suddenly  announced  "  wonderful  discovery  "  might 
be ;  and  each  one  found  himself  an  anxious  investigator 
into  the  mystery  that  was  all  at  once  thus  but  partially 
promulgated. 

Hundreds  of  visitors  now  crowded  Ely's  apartments, 
day  after  day  —  where  he  had  a  dozen  safes  set  up,  upon 
which  his  Patent  Impenetrable  Lock  was  ingeniously 
affixed. 

Nobody  could  open  a  safe  without  his  aid.  When 
opened  from  the  outside,  none  could  '  penetrate '  the 
inside.  He  showed  them  all  '  how  to  do  it,'  as  he  had 
shown  Frank  Meyers.  But  not  a  man  could  open  one  of 
his  safes,  by  himself. 

And  why  ? 

Simply  because  lie  kept  the  key  for  sale.  And  he  did  not 
furnish  this  secret,  except  with  a  safe,  and  then  only  to 
actual  buyers. 


312  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

All  sorts  of  criticisms  were  uttered  —  reasonable,  and 
unreasonable,  frivolous  and  ingenious,  fallacious  and  proba 
ble,  querulous  and  derogatory  —  regarding  this  wonder 
ful  lock,  on  the  part  of  experts. 

But  none  of  them  could  open  one  of  them,  blow  it  out, 
get  into  it,  or  destroy  it,  except  through  actually  cutting 
it  in  pieces  with  the  cold  chisel ;  and  this  last  process  Ely 
would  not  permit  —  at  present. 

When  this  idea  was  suggested  to  him,  he  simply  said 
'  well  gentlemen,  it  will  require  more  than  one  long 
night  of  constant  work  upon  it,  to  do  even  that ;  and  it 
could  not  be  thus  destroyed,  without  a  very  considerable 
amount  of  noise  ;  which  would  cause  alarm  that  would 
frustrate  the  plan  of  a  burglar  who  might  attempt  to 
burst  it  in  that  way,  surely." 

But  the  great  State  Exhibition  was  shortly  coming  on. 
And  Ely  had  a  little  scheme  in  his  head  for  the  Institute 
Fair,  whereby  he  proposed  to  test  his  invention,  thor 
oughly,  in  open  daylight  —  and  establish,  or  break  its 
reputation,  thenceforth,  forever. 

During  Morris  Dean's  last  visit  to  New  York  city,  when 
he  went  from  Brandville  farm  to  dispose  of  his  valuable 
Morgan  colt  (which  Reuben  Downer  purchased  at  such  a 
magnificent  figure)  the  four  friends  met  —  Hawes,  Meyers, 
Downer  and  Morris  —  and  the  young  inventor  informed 
them  of  his  contemplated  plan  for  the  Institute  Fair. 

"  I  will  exhibit  four  safes,"  he  said,  "  manufactured  by 
Hart  &  Co.  expressly  for  this  occasion,  upon  each  of  which 
I  will  affix  one  of  my  patent  locks. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  315 

"  Two  of  them  will  be  closed,  and  the  other  two  will 
be  left  open  —  one  showing  the  clear  interior,  and  the 
other  with  the  outer  door  only  open. 

"  In  one  of  the  two  closed  safes,  I  will  deposit  a  thou 
sand  dollars  in  gold.  And  I  propose  to  notify  the  public 
that  the  inventor  of  the  new  "  Impenetrable  Safe  Lock  " 
will  award  to  the  party  who  can  open  those  safes,  the 
money  thus  deposited  within  one  or  both  —  provided  any 
one  can  get  into  either  of  them,  in  twelve  hours  —  by 
unlocking  it,  picking  the  lock,  or  destroying  it  within  that 
period ;  provided  also,  that  any  other  safe-lock  competitor 
will  offer  a  similar  proposal ;  to  be  open  to  all  comers  — 
inventors,  experts,  professional  burglars,  or  otherwise. 
And  I  will  enter  the  arena  myself  as  a  contestant  for  the 
thousand  dollars  to  be  so  deposited  in  any  safe  secured  by 
any  other  inventor's  lock. 

"  This  will  form  an  attractive  feature  in  the  mechanical 
department  of  the  Exhibition,  it  will  advertise  my  lock, 
splendidly,  (as  Reuben  suggests)  and  I  believe  I  will  win 
the  society's  great  Gold  Medal ;  and*  can  thus  establish  the 
reputation  of  my  invention  immeasurably,  silence  all  cavil 
on  the  part  of  other  inventors,  convince  American  safe- 
manufacturers  who  really  has  the  best  lock,  earn  a  thou 
sand  or  two  dollars  pretty  easily,  by  finding  my  way  into 
the  safes  of  one  or  more  of  my  old-fogy  competitors,  and 
show  the  merchants  and  bankers  of  this  city  that  Ely 
Hawes  has  got  a  good  thing,  in  his  Impenetrable  Safe 
Lock— eh,  lads?" 


314  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

"  Bravo !  "  shouted  Frank  Meyers,  delighted  with  this 
little  plot. 

"  A  capital  scheme,"  said  Reuben,  who  had  listened  to 
the  animated  utterances  in  which  Ely  had  explained  his 
contemplated  proposition. 

"  It's  a  mighty  good  idea,  that,"  added  Morris.  "  And 
if  you  succeed,  it  will  be  a  big  feather  in  your  cap,  Ely  — 
that's  a  fact," 

"  Succeed  ?     Of  course  I  shall !  " 

"  You  have  succeeded,  thus  far,  that  cannot  be  denied. 
But  how  will  you  get  into  the  other  man's  safe  ?  " 

"  Ah,  well.  I  don't  know  about  that.  I  have  a  gen 
eral  idea  of  all  this  sort  of  lock-machinery,  of  course.  I 
give,  and  take.  I  will  employ  the  same  means  to  attack 
their  inventions,  that  I  permit  them,  or  any  of  them,  to  use 
upon  mine,  and  none  other.  This  is  fair,  isn't  it  ?  " 

"Yes,  if  they  agree  to  it,"  returned  Morris  —  "of 
course." 

"  It  is  to  be  a  friendly  contest  of  skill  —  brain  against 
brain,"  said  Ely.  "  I  say  they  can't  penetrate  my  new 
patent  lock.  If  they  can,  they  can  beat  me,  and  take  my 
thousand  dollars,  which  they  are  welcome  to.  I  think  I 
can  get  into  any  of  their  safes,  locked  with  any  present 
known  invention,  (except  mine)  if  they  will  allow  me  the 
same  time  that  I  will  grant  them  for  trial  —  say  twelve 
hours. 

"  And  this  is  long  enough  to  test  the  question  fairly  ; 
because  no  burglar  has  much  more  than  half  this  time  in 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  315 

one  night,  ordinarily,  to  peck  away  at  a  safe  he  aims  to 
force,  before  daylight  overtakes  him,  you  see." 

"  That's  so,"  says  Frank.  "  Your  plan's  a  good  one.  I 
take  only  one  exception  to  it,  Ely." 

"  And  what  is  that,  Frank  ?  " 

"While  you're  about  it,  make  it  an  object,  my  dear 
fellow,  for  these  chaps  to  work  in  good  earnest.  Make 
the  forfeit-money  five  thousand  dollars,  Ely,  instead  of 
one  thousand.  Why  not  ?  " 

"  I  can't,  Frank." 

"Why  not,  then?" 

"  I  haven't  got  the  money." 

"  That's  no  reason.     I  have." 

"  No  —  it  is  too  much  to  risk,  my  boy." 

"  Then  one  thousand  is  too  much,  old  fellow !  Don't 
you  play  at  this  sort  of  game,  except  to  win,  Ely." 

"  No  !  That's  it,"  said  Morris.  "  That's  good  advice, 
any  way." 

"  If  you  haven't  sufficient  confidence  in  your  own  inven 
tion,  to  believe  that  your  lock  is  really  what  you  claim  it 
to  be,"  suggested  Reuben,  seriously,  "  don't  you  risk  any 
thousand  dollars  in  your  safe,  Ely.  You  may  thus  lose 
your  money,  your  reputation  and  your  future  prospects, 
all  at  once  !  " 

"  O,  look  here,  you  rich  nabobs,  who  don't  mind  spend 
ing  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  dollars  for  a  trotting  horse, 
or  lending  a  man  five  or  ten  thousand  dollars  upon  call,  at 
a  moment's  notice.  It's  all  very  easy  for  you  to  moralize, 
and  talk  thus  glibly  about  a  big  pile  of  money." 


316        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  Then  you're  not  afraid,  Ely  ?  That  isn't  your 
trouble  ?  " 

" Afraid  o'  what?" 

"  That  they  will  get  into  your  safe  ?  " 

"  It  is  impossible,  I  tell  you  —  unless  they  absolutely 
smash  it  to  pieces,  with  sledge-hammer  and  cold-chisel. 
This  I  won't  do,  or  allow  them  to  do,  of  course." 

"  All  right,  then,"  added  Frank.  "  Put  five  thousand 
dollars  in  gold  into  it.  If  they  get  it  —  I  will  lose  it. 
You  sha'n't,  anyhow.  And  I  will  furnish  the  money. 
This  will  make  the  thing  '  respectable,'  my  boy,"  con 
cluded  Meyers,  enthusiastically. 

Thus  the  proposition  was  settled,  as  the  friends  were 
about  to  separate. 

"  When  the  trial  comes  off,  Ety,  I  will  come  down  and 
witness  it,  sure,"  said  Morris,  at  the  close  of  this  pleasant 
cpnference.  "  I  shall  be  delighted  to  see  you  triumph, 
Ely,  and  it  will  be  the  making  of  your  fortune.  If  you 
don't  slip  up  in  this,  you  can  count  upon  the  '  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  gold '  you  marked  out  as  the  sum  of 
your  ambition,  years  ago  —  when  we  were  all  poorer  than 
Job's  cat,  I  remember." 

"  Thank  you,  Morris.  I  can't  lose  any  thing,  by  this 
little  experiment.  I  may  not  be  able  to  get  into  their 
safes  —  but  I  know  they  cannot  penetrate  mine." 

"  It  will  be  a  very  interesting  scene  to  witness,  Ely. 
And  besides,  Eunice  desires  to  come  down  to  the  Fair,'* 
continued  Morris,  "  and  I  will  bring  her  with  me." 


HOW    TO    MAKE    IT.  317 

"  Hallo ! "  cried  Frank.  "  Who  was  that  you  spoke 
of,  Morris  ?  " 

"When?" 

"  Just  now  — c  Eunice.'     Who  is  Eunice,  Morris  ?  " 

"  Beg  pardon.  Haven't  I  mentioned  it  before  ?  That's 
a  friend  of  mine,  at  Brandville,  Frank.  Mr.  Blount's 
daughter.  The  prettiest  and  best  girl  in  the  village  —  or 
out  of  it,  my  boy." 

"  O-ho  ?  '  That's  what's  the  matter,  .eh,  Morris  ?  Sly 
dog !  The  old  farmer's  daughter,  eh  ?  " 

"  Yes.  And  about  my  own  age.  A  nice  young  lady,  I 
assure  you.  I'll  bring  her  down,  and  introduce  her  to  you, 
and  Ely,  and  Reuben.  She's  a  good  catch,  for  any  man, 
Frank.  You're  a  bachelor,  now  —  rich,  growing  richer 
every  clay  —  and  you  ought  to  get  married,  my  friend." 

"  Hear  him  !  "  shouted  Frank.  "  Wouldn't  you  say, 
now,  that  butter  wouldn't  melt  in  this  rogue's  mouth, 
boys?" 

"  Well.  You  shall  see  Miss  Eunice,  when  the  safe-lock- 
bursting  comes  off  at  the  Fair,"  concluded  Morris.  "  And 
you  shall  tell  me  then  if  she  isn't  a  buxom  nice  girl.  So 

by,  by,  lads.  We'll  meet  again  in  a  few  weeks. 

And  I  have  no  doubt  that  Ely  will  not  only  be  richer  by 
five  thousand  dollars  in  cash  after  this  trial,  but  that  this 
happy  experiment  of  his  will  prove  the  means  of  establish 
ing  his  invention,  beyond  doubt,  as  the  best  of  its  kind  in 
the  world,  to-day.  Good-by  !  " 

They  parted  —  to  meet  at  the  Institute  Exhibition,  one 
month  from  that  bright  pleasant  day. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

WHAT   HAPPENED   AT  THE  GREAT   INSTITUTE   FAIR. 

CONSCIENTIOUS  rivalry  is  a  noble  passion,  and  just, 
withal.  It  limits  a  man  within  the  terms  of  honor,  and 
makes  the  contest  for  reputation  fair  and  generous. 
True  emulation  consists  in  striving  to  excel  in  any  thing 
that  is  commendable ;  and  the  competitor  thus  raises  him 
self  fairly,  through  his  own  merits,  and  not  by  depressing 
others. 

Bishop  Hall  asserts  that  while  worldly  ambition  is 
usually  founded  on  pride,  or  envy,  true  emulation  —  or 
laudable  ambition  —  is  actually  founded  in  humility  ;  for  it 
evidently  implies  that  we  have  a  modest  opinion  of  our 
own  present  attainments,  and  deem  it  necessary  to  be 
advanced. 

This  characteristic  is  signally  exhibited  even  among  the 
brute  creation.  Observe  the  tremor  and  zeal  of  the 
thorough-bred  horse,  at  the  starting  of  the  race.  And 
note  the  lumbering  dray-horse  ;  the  latter  does  not  tremble 
j — but  he  does  not  emulate ! 

Laudable  ambition  "  is  a  germ  from  which  all  growth  of 

318 


HOW    TO   MAKE    IT.  319 

nobleness  proceeds,"  affirms  English.  And  "  there  is  a 
kind  of  grandeur  and  respect  which  the  poorest  and  most 
insignificant  portion  of  mankind  endeavor  to  procure,  in 
the  circle  of  their  friends  and  acquaintances." 

The  humblest  mechanic  draws  around  him  his  set  of 
admirers,  and  delights  in  that  superiority  which  he  enjoys 
over  those  who  may,  in  some  respects,  be  beneath  him. 
This  ambition,  which  is  but  natural  to  the  soul  of  man, 
may  receive  a  happy  turn,  if  it  be  but  rightly  directed,  and 
contribute  largely  to  an  individual's  advantage,  at  the 
same  time. 

But,  where  this  emulation  can  be  so  happily  adapted  as 
to  cover  its  contemplated  enterprises,  even  to  the  person 
himself,  under  the  mantle  of  principle,  it  is  the  most  com 
mendable  as  well  as  inflexible  of  all  human  passions  —  and 
is  truthfully  described  as  a  grand  spur  toward  the  attain 
ment  of  the  higher  virtues. 

Ely  Hawes  had  proceeded  from  his  earliest  start  in  life 
upon  true  principle,  in  all  his  aims  and  ambitions.  He  had 
genuine  talent  naturally  implanted  in  his  composition,  and 
he  made  himself  morally  sure  of  his  ground,  as  he  went 
along,  before  he  attempted  to  push  his  way  farther. 

He  was  now  convinced,  in  his  own  mind,  that  he  had 
consummated  what  would  prove  a  grand  thing  for  the 
commercial  world.  And  he  felt  pretty  certain  that  his 
fortunate  invention  —  upon  which  he  had  spent  years  and 
years  of  ardent  study  —  would  turn  out  not  only  a  benefit 
to  others,  through  its  positive  value  and  security  for  its 


320        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

intended  good  purpose,  but  he  thought  his  own  reward 
was  now  close. at  hand  —  at  last. 

He  made  his  proposition  for  competition  openly,  .ind 
some  of  his  competitors  accepted  his  manly  challenge  at 
the  coming  Industrial  Fair.  One  of  them  only  ventured 
to  make  a  deposit  as  he  did  of  five  thousand  dollars  in  a 
safe  secured  with  his  own  lock,  however ;  and  this  was  a 
prominent  inventor,  who  had  hitherto  carried  away  all  the 
leading  prizes  at  previous  Exhibitions,  and  who  did  not 
hesitate  to  meet  the  young  mechanic,  very  confident  of 
vanquishing  him,  upon  his  own  offered  terms. 

He  entertained  no  thought  that  Ely  could  get  into  his 
safe,  (where  he  had  deposited  the  requisite  five  thousand 
dollars,)  while  he  fancied  that  his  superior  knowledge  and 
experience  as  a  first-class  lock-maker  would  enable  him, 
after  a  while,  to  force  an  entrance  into  Hawes'  safe. 

He  would  thus  gain  the  five  thousand  dollars  at  issue, 
and  enhance  his  own  already  very  creditable  reputation  ; 
while  he  would  by  this  means  effectually  dispose  of  one 
more  competitor,  as  he  had  for  years  vanquished  others, 
who  had  aimed  to  rival  or  excel  him.' 

With  the  best  feelings  towards  all  concerned,  Ely 
Hawes  entered  the  Exhibition,  at  last,  where  the  four 
safes  with  his  patent  lock  affixed  upon  each,  had  already 
preceded  him. 

The  money  was  deposited  duly  in  the  competing  safes, 
and  the  terms  were  clearly  understood  upon  which  the 
test  of  mechanical  skill  was  to  be  attempted.  The  day 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  321 

was  fixed  for  this  extra  exhibition  — •  and  at  the  appointed 
time  the  operators  were  promptly  on  hand. 

Morris  Deans  came  down  to  New  York  the  day  previous 
to  the  trial,  accompanied  by  pretty  Eunice  Blount,  whom 
he  presented  to  his  friends  at  the  Fair,  all  of  whom 
thought  the  u  Sunnyside  "  girl  a  very  comely  and  inter 
esting  young  person,  greatly  to  the  gratification  of  her 
friend  Morris,  who  was  very  fond  of  her,  to  be  sure. 

The  proposed  novel  trial  of  the  leading  safe-lock  men 
against  the  new  comer  in  this  field,  caused  a  large  gather 
ing  of  interested  and  curious  spectators  to  press  around 
the  ticket  offices  of  the  Institute  exhibition  rooms,  on  the 
bright  morning  upon  which  this  event  was  to  come  off.^ 

The  newspapers  had  previously  announced  the  affair, 
and  Reuben  Downer  had  taken  care  that  the  public  should 
be  thoroughly  posted,  beforehand,  regarding  the  claimed 
merits  of  his  friend  Ely's  invention.  On  the  morning  of 
the  anxiously  looked-for  day,  the  following  announcement 
was  Herald-ed  and  Tribune- d  and  Surid,  in  advance  of 
the  opening  of  the  exhibition :  — 

$5,000  GIVEN   TO   THE   BEST    SAFE    LOCK,    TO-DAY,  AT   THE    FAIR  ! 

$5,000  given  to  the  best  Safe  lock,  to-day,  at  the  Fair!! 
$5,000  given  to  the  best  Safe  lock,  to-day,  at  the  Fair ! ! ! 

WHO  WILL  FIND  THE  $5,000  IN  THE  SAFE,  TO-DAY,  AT  THE  FAIR? 

Who  will  find  the  $5,000  in  the  Safe,  to-day,  at  the  Fair?? 
Who  will  find  the  $5,000  in  the  Safe,  to-day,  at  the  Fair??? 

WllO  WINS  THE  $5,000  TO-DAY,  AT  THE  FAIR,  FOR  BEST  SAFE  LOCK? 

Who  wins  the  $5,000  to-day,  at  the  Fair,  for  best  Safe  lock?? 
Who  wins  the  $5,000  to-day,  at  the  Fair,  for  best  Safe  lock??? 


322        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

This  was  'puffy/  so  many  averred.  Others  thought  it 
a  tip-top  advertising  dodge  for  the  safe  and  lock-makers, 
generally.  And  everybody  who  could  get  into  the  great 
building,  was  there,  before  eleven  o'clock  A.M. 

The  operators  upon  the  safes  commenced  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning  —  to  enable  them  to  avail  them 
selves  of  the  entire  long  summer's  day  in  their  experi 
ments,  before  the  exhibition  closed,  at  eight  P.M. 

Frank  Meyers  was  on  hand,  early  —  and  so  were 
Reuben  Downer,  and  Morris  Deans,  with  pretty  Miss 
Eunice  Blount  upon  his  arm.  Ely  Hawes  did  not  come 
in  till  after  ten  o'clock.  Then  he  was  greeted  with  a 
hearty  round  of  welcome,  by  those  who  knew  him. 

"  What  brings  you  so  late  ? "  inquired  all  his  friends 
anxiously,  who  had  been  looking  for  him,  three  hours,  at 
the  least. 

"Time  enough,"  said  Ely.  "We  drew  lots  for  the 
chance  to  begin,  and  I  lost.  I  shall  do  nothing  until 
to-morrow,  you  see.  The  others  have  all  day  to-day  to 
peck  away  at  my  safes  and  lock.  And  to-morrow  comes 
my  turn  to  try  my  hand  upon  theirs.  This  is  the  arrange 
ment." 

Then  edging  his  way  through  the  crowd,  he  asked 
"how  do  they  get  on,  Frank?" 

"  Who  ?  "  returned  Meyers. 

"  The  safe-lock  pickers  ?  " 

"  Oh  !     Yes.     Nothing  yet  has  transpired." 

"  And  it  is  three  hours  nearly  since  they  began,  eh  ?  " 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  323 

44  Yes.     They  haven't  got  the  outside  open,  yet !  " 

44 1  will  assist  them,"  suggested  Ely.  "  This  outside 
arrangement  is  no  part  of  the  lock." 

And  gliding  up  to  his  safes,  he  exchanged  a  pleasant 
word  or  two  with  the  expert  who  was  pegging  away  to 
open  his  outer  safe-door.  Then,  moving  behind  the  safe, 
he  applied  his  stout  thumb  in  the  right  spot,  and  the  safe- 
door  glided  open  of  itself,  apparently  —  and  the  operator 
thought  he  had  4  made  a  point,'  on  a  sudden,  he  hardly 
knew  how. 

«  Now  you'll  do  it !  "  said  Ely. 

"  I  reckon  I  shall,  my  young  friend,"  returned  his  lively 
competitor.  ^  That  is  what  I'm  here  for." 

"  Go  ahead,"  said  Ely. 

"  I  have  given  you  the  key  to  my  safe-lock,"  said  the 
old  inventor,  with  an  air  of  triumph  —  "  and  if  you  can 
thus  open  my  lock,  without  my  aid,  you  win.  Now, 
where  is  your  key  ?  " 

44  It  is  directly  before  you,"  said  Ely.  "  You  have  only 
to  apply  it,  and  open  the  inner  safe." 

"  I  do  not  see  it,  sir." 

44  It  is  there,  nevertheless." 

"Where?" 

44  Here,"  said  Ely,  modestly.  And  he  placed  his  hand 
upon  the  bright  steel  revolving  knob. 

44 1  said  key,  sir.     This  is  the  door-handle.     I  see  that." 

44  That  is  both  handle  and  key,  if  you  will.  But  that  is 
all  the  key  there  is  to  my  lock,  sir,"  insisted  Ely  Hawes. 


324  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

And  the  crowd  applauded  the  young  inventor's  coolness 
and  manly  address. 

The  old  mechanic  turned  the  knob  forward  and  back 
ward,  pulled  at  it,  strove  to  push  it  inward,  and  back 
again  —  but  made  no  headway  whatever. 

The  multitude  looked  on  and  smiled,  and  nudged  each 
other,  and  watched  the  toiler  with  increased  interest  as 
the  moments,  or  hours,  went  by  at  last  —  and  they  saw 
no  progress  made. 

At  three  o'clock  the  inventor  asked  Ely  if  he  could 
open  that  lock,  in  the  presence  of  the  spectators,  without 
any  other  key  or  implement  than  what  he  had  provided 
his  competitor  with  ? 

"  O  yes,  sir,"  said  Ely,  blandly.  "  Of  course  I  can. 
But  I  must  open  it  with  that  key  you  now  have  your 
hand  upon.  It  cannot  be  opened  in  any  other  way." 

"  Will  you  do  this,  sir  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure,"  said  Ely,  advancing.  "  I  will  show 
you  how  to  do  it  —  then  I  will  re-lock  it,  and  you  can  try 
it  again.  You  have  nearly  five  hours  yet,  in  which  to 
open  it ;  and  surely  you  can  do  this  after  being  shown  how, 
before  eight  o'clock  to-night  ?  " 

"  Yes — yes,"  responded  his  rival. 

The  crowd  were  in  good  spirits,  as  Ely  went  to  the  front 
of  his  open  safe  —  turned  the  steel-shafted  handle  round 
and  round  a  moment  —  precisely  as  the  old  inventor 
seemed  to  have  done  —  and  drawing  gently  upon  the  knob, 
the  door  came  open,  without  any  exertion ;  exposing  the 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  325 

inside  of  the  safe  and  the  new  lock  —  and  the  $5,000,  in 
shining  gold,  that  was  deposited  there  for  the  benefit  of 
the  stranger  who  could  open  it  from  the  outside. 

Another  round  of  applause  rang  out,  at  this  perform 
ance  —  when  Ely  closed  the  door,  again,  turned  the  knob 
slowly,  and  said  to  his  competitor  — 

"  Now,  sir — you  have  seen  how  I  did  it.     Proceed." 

The  rival  went  at  the  lock  in  earnest,  now  ! 

He  had  four  hours  and  a  half  to  do  his  work  in,  yet  — 
before  the  expiration  of  the  twelve  hours  allotted  him  for 
the  trial.  But  he  turned,  and  twisted,  and  tugged  at  this 
steel  knob,  in  vain.  And  at  half  past  four,  he  took  up  his 
cold-chisel  to  remove  this  knob.  This  out  of  his  way,  he 
"  could  see  into  the  thing,"  he  fancied. 

No  objection  was  made  by  Ely  to  this  performance.  His 
lock  might  be  ruined  ;  but  he  knew  the  old  man  could  not 
thus  open  the  safe  —  whatever  resulted.  And-  this  was 
what  he  had  to  do,  to  earn  the  enclosed  $ 5,000. 

The  shaft  that  run  from  this  knob  into  the  lock,  was 
nearly  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  and  it  was  of  the 
finest  Bessamer  chilled  steel.  It  was  not  an  easy  or  a 
brief  job  to  cut  this  stout  bar  off.  There  was  no  .chance 
to  work  at  it,  the  shoulder  fitted  so  closely  to  the  orifice 
through  which  it  passed,  inward. 

But  at  it  he  went,  fiercely.  And  at  half  past  five,  he 
had  cut  the  knob  away.  But  he  was  no  better  off  then, 
than  at  the  beginning !  Then  he  cut,  and  hammered,  and 
slashed,  and  pried,  and  wrenched,  and  chiselled  —  but 


326  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

seven  and  a  half  o'clock  arrived,  and  the  "  Impenetrable 
Lock  "  of  Ely  Hawes  was  still  intact. 

The  expert  could  not  get  into  it  —  he  could  not  pick  it 
—  he  could  not  force  it  —  and  he  had  not  cut  the  steel- 
fronted  door  through,  when  "  time  !  "  was  called.  Eight 
o'clock  had  come  round  —  and  he  had  failed  in  his  attempt 
to  penetrate  his  young  rival's  new  lock ! 

A  shout  went  up  from  the  assembled  throng.  Ely 
Hawes  gracefully  raised  his  hat  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
intended  compliment,  and  received  the  warm  congratula 
tions  of  his  intimate  personal  friends,  who  crowded  around 
him,  as  he  advanced  and  quietly  closed  the  outer  door  of 
his  safe  again ;  while  the  tired  old  inventor  remarked 
"  that  is  a  good  safe-lock,  certain  ;  I  say  it  —  and  I  know," 
as  he  disappeared  among  his  own  associates. 

Next  day,  at  eight  o'clock  A.M.,  the  young  inventor's 
turn  would  come,  to  try  his  hand  upon  his  rival's  lock. 
$5,000  in  gold  were  deposited  in  this  man's  safe,  also. 
And  Ely  said  he  would  get  at  it,  if  he  could. 

The  excitement  attendant  upon  an  exhibition  of  this 
character,  where  the  contestants  were  really  so  unequal, 
was  naturally  intense.  The  old  inventor  was  the  owner  of 
a  most  excellent  lock,  which  had  been  improved  upon  from 
year  to  year  by  him,  until  it  had  taken  its  deserved  posi 
tion  at  the  head  of  this  class  of  device,  and  had  at  that 
period  no  real  competitor,  in  fact. 

The  young  mechanic  had  made  a  remarkable  discovery, 
during  his  long  ingenious  practice  and  tireless  study  ;  but 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  327 

he  was  almost  entirely  unknown,  and  he  relied  solely  upon 
the  merits  of  his  invention  for  any  success  that  might  in 
this  contest  attend  him. 

His  opponent  had  established  his  own  fame,  years  pre 
viously.  Ely  had  just  "  opened  the  ball "  in  his  experi 
ence.  But  he  was  self-reliant,  and  believed  in  the  value 
of  his  enterprise.  He  was  confident  that  his  lock  was  the 
best  yet  constructed,  and  he  had  entered  the  lists,  on  this 
occasion,  determined  to  prove  what  he  had  latterly  pub 
licly  aad  privately  assumed. 

When  the  crowd  separated  at  the  Fair  that  evening,  it 
was  agreed  on  all  hands  that  so  far  as  the  Hawes  invention 
was  concerned,  it  was  a  very  good  one.  His  chief  rival 
could  not  get  into  Ely's  safe.  So  much  had  been  gained. 

On  the  morrow,  they  would  learn  whether  the  hitherto 
favorite  lock  would  stand  a  similar  test,  at  the  hands  of 
the  skilful  young  machinist. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

FIVE  THOUSAND   DOLLARS   AND   THE   GOLD   MEDAL. 

ELY  HA  WES  was  in  earnest,  now  —  as  might  naturally 
have  been  anticipated,  in  this  undertaking. 

"  It  is  neck  or  nothing,'*  he  said,  pleasantly,  when  he 
left  the  Fair  rooms,  for  his  lodgings,  in  company  with  his 
faithful  friends  Meyers  and  Downer. 

"  I  have  seen  one  point  carried,"  he  added,  with  honest 
enthusiasm,  "  and  I  am  not  surprised  that  the  old  man  did 
not  succeed.  But  I  must  beat  him,  at  his  own  game  — 
if  possible." 

"You  have  shown  very  clearly  that  you  have  not 
assumed  more  for  your  own  invention  than  has  been  veri 
fied  to-day,  Ely,"  observed  Frank.  "  Now,  if  you  can 
do  with  your  rival's  lock  what  he  has  satisfied  himself  he 
can't  do  with  yours,  you  will  accomplish  a  complete 
triumph." 

"  I  will  try"  returned  Ely,  hopefully. 

The  throng  of  visitors  was  in  no  wise  lessened  upon  the 
second  day  of  this  entertaining  trial,  when  it  was  made 
known  that  the  noted  and  experienced  inventor  had  failed 

328 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  329 

to  penetrate  Ely's  lauded  lock,  in  a  twelve  hours'  bout  at 
the  young  man's  novel  contrivance.  And  all  the  personal 
friends  of  Hawes  were  promptly  on  hand  to  encourage  him 
in  his  forthcoming  experiment. 

"  You'll  win,  EljV  said  Frank  Meyers,  when  they  met 
at  the  Fair  the  next  morning.  "  You  can  do  it,  my  boy. 
I  feel  it  in  my  bones." 

u  I  don't  know  that,  Frank,"  returned  Ely,  modestly. 
"  It  isn't  an  easy  thing  to  perform.  This  man  has  got  a 
grand  good  lock,  I  can  tell  you  —  that  has  stood  the  test, 
bravely,  hitherto,  as  is  well  known.  I  may  not  be  able  to 
get  into  his  safe,  in  the  twelve  hours  allowed  by  the  terms 
of  our  mutual  agreement.  But  one  thing  is  certain ;  he 
didn't  get  into  mine.  And  so  your  five  thousand  dollars 
are  safe.  We  sha'n't  lose  any  thing  by  my  offer.  This  is 
a  satisfaction  to  me,  I  assure  you." 

"  And  the  reputation  of  your  lock  is  assured,  too,  be 
yond  question,"  observed  Reuben,  delighted  with  the 
result,  thus  far. 

"  Dear  me,  what  a  crowd  !  "  exclaimed  Eunice,  clinging 
to  the  arm  of  Morris.  "  I  never  saw  so  many  people,  I 
believe,  in  all  my  life  before  !  " 

"  I  shall  have  to  put  you  temporarily  in  charge  of  my 
good  friend  Meyers,  Euny,"  remarked  Morris.  "  By  and 
by,  when  Ely  gets  at  his  work,  I  want  to  be  near  him. 
And  the  crush  yonder  is  so  great,  that  you  will  be  uncom 
fortable  there." 

u  Where  are  you  going  ?  "  asked  Miss  Eunice. 


330        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

'•  1  want  to  be  a  witness  to  Ely's  performance  upon  his 
rival's  safe-lock,  Euny.  But  the  throng  is  so  eager  that 
you  would  be  crushed  yonder.' ' 

"  And  Mr.  Meyers  may  perhaps  be  of  the  same  mind, 
Morris." 

"  No,  he  says  he  will  show  you  the  Institute  attractions, 
\*ith  pleasure." 

"  All  right,  then.  I  hope  your  friend  Mr.  Hawes  will 
succeed  in  his  object.  But  this  throng  of  people  seem 
a  deal  more  interested  in  the  details  of  this  matter  than 
I  do." 

Frank  Meyers  came  up,  at  this  moment,  and  soon  after 
wards  he  offered  Miss  Eunice  his  arm,  and  they  moved 
away  slowly  together,  to  examine  the  numerous  contribu 
tions  that  were  displayed  elsewhere  in  the  great  Institute 
Exhibition. 

At  half  past  eight  A.M.,  Ely  threw  off  his  coat,  turned 
up  his  shirt-sleeves,  and  sat  down  in  front  of  the  rival 
safe,  which  was  locked  with  the  best  device  then  known 
in  America. 

And  it  was  really  a  good  one. 

He  had  a  general  knowledge  of  this  lock,  as  he  had  of 
others.  But  he  did  not  know  how  to  pick  it. 

He  worked  at  it  steadily  three  long  hours.  The  key 
was  of  no  use  in  his  hands,  since  there  was  but  one  way  to 
use  this  implement,  successfully,  upon  the  lock ;  and  this 
secret  was  like  his  own  —  communicated  only  by  the 
patentee  to  the  party  who  bought  his  differently  construct- 


"Now.  young  jackanapes!  "  shouted  the  burly  grocer,  whip  in  hand,  as  the  home 
less  lad  came  out  of  the  upturned  hogshead,  •'  what  are  you  doin'  here?  "  —  A  sleep- 
in',  sir,"  cried  the  boy.  "Don't  hit  me.  I  ain't  done  no  harm,  sir!"  [CHAP.  xxv. 

page  :UO. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  333 

ed  keys  and  locks  ;  though  all  were  upon  the  same  general 
principle,  in  their  formation,  it  was  known. 

The  old  inventor  opened  this  safe  (as  Ely  had  opened 
his,  the  day  before,)  to  show  the  spectators  that  it  could  be 
done  ;  and  the  other  glistening  five  thousand  dollars  were 
exposed  fairly  to  the  public  gaze.  Then  it  was  re-locked, 
and  Ely  went  at  it  again. 

He  adopted  his  own  tactics,  and  labored  assiduously 
until  high  noon,  without  making  any  impression  upon  the 
rival  lock. 

The  multitude  wavered  in  opinion,  as  they  watched  the 
young  mechanic's  arduous  efforts  to  win  a  triumph,  in  this 
attempt.  But  it  was  evident  that  his  success  was  doubtful, 
until  at  three  o'clock,  he  commenced  systematically  to 
pick  it.  He  could  not  open  it,  from  the  outside,  with  the 
key  —  though  he  manipulated  it  over  five  hours,  diligently, 
and  tried  half  a  dozen  different  skeleton-keys,  besides. 

"  It  has  never  been  forced,  by  a  stranger  yet"  remarked 
the  inventor.  "  And  I  don't  believe  this  sharp  fellow  can 
accomplish  it,  if  he  is  given  twenty-four  instead  of  twelve 
hours,  to  try  his  experiments  upon  it." 

But  Ely  went  on,  without  talk,  or  halting  to  notice  what 
was  said  about  the  probabilities.  There  were  five  thousand 
good  hard  dollars  in  gold,  in  that  safe.  And  he  wanted  to 
earn  this  sum,  if  he  could.  "  It  is  good  round  pay,"  he 
said,  "for  twelve  hours  of  toil  and  study." 

He  had  around  him  a  variety  of  ingeniously  constructed 
tools  —  files,  probes,  chisels,  skeleton-keys,  worms,  springs, 


334        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

gouges,  awls,  hooks,  pliers,  clamps,  hammers,  and  what 
nots  —  and  finally  at  a  little  past  four  o'clock  he  hit  upon 
a  device  that  gave  him  a  fresh  idea. 

He  contrived  soon  afterwards  to  catch  up  one  of  the 
inner  tumblers  of  the  lock  and  displace  it.  He  followed 
up  this  Vantage,  and  secured  a  second  one.  After  half 
an  hour's  digging,  and  twisting  and  probing,  he  threw  up 
the  main  lever  that  shot  the  chief  bolt  across  the  centre 
of  the  lock  —  and  forcing  this  aside,  he  got  a  clamp- 
purchase  upon  the  under  bolt. 

At  ten  minutes  past  five  o'clock,  the  ratchets  were 
broken,  and  the  lock  was  forced.  At  half  past  five  he 
had  disengaged  both  catches,  above  and  below ;  and,  with 
his  bar  and  cold-chisel,  and  twenty  minutes  more  '  sharp 
practice '  —  Ely  stove  the  sockets  out,  released  the  heavy 
steel  bolts,  and  pried  the  door  open,  with  the  crippled 
lock  in  ruins,  inside  its  hardened  steel  casings  ! 

The  multitude  yelled  out  their  note  of  acclamation, 
upon  this  triumph  for  the  youthful  inventor.  And  Ely's 
friends  crowded  around  him  with  their  earnest  plaudits 
and  congratulations. 

He  won  his  honors  fairly.  He  gained  the  five  thousand 
dollars  he  had  competed  for.  And  at  the  close  of  the 
Fair,  the  grand  gold  medal  of  the  Institute  was  awarded 
—  in  this  department — to  the  Patent  "Impenetrable 
Bank-safe  Lock"  invented  by  Ely  Hawes,  as  the  BEST 
lock  contributed  to  the  Exhibition. 

This  was  glory  enough  for  poor  Ely  —  for  the  present ! 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  335 

And  he  made  the  most  of  his  opportunity,  as  we  shall 
shortly  discover. 

The  old  inventor  came  forward  at  the  close  of  Ely's 
labors,  and  himself  withdrew  the  five  thousand  dollars  in 
gold  from  his  safe. 

"  You  have  won,  my  friend,"  he  said,  good-naturedly. 
"  But  a  man  who  can  construct  a  lock  like  yours,  can  beat 
me.  Where  will  you  have  this  money  placed  ?  It  is 
yours.  I  can  afford  it.  I  have  no  reason  to  complain  at 
my  success,  heretofore.  What  shall  we  do  with  this  gold? 
You  have  broken  my  lock  to  pieces,  and  it  is  no  longer 
safe  here"  continued  the  old  man,  smiling. 

44  Put  it  into  my  safe,  then,"  replied  Ely,  going  towards 
one  of  his  that  had  remained  unassailed,  and  which  he 
opened  at  once. 

"  It  will  remain  undisturbed  there,"  said  Ely. 

"  Yes.  You  have  got  a  big  thing  in  your  lock,  assur 
edly,"  returned  his  rival.  "  I  congratulate  you,  young 
man.  Your  fortune  is  no  longer  a  question  of  doubt,  sir." 

From  that  hour,  Ely  Hawes  went  upward  steadily  in 
his  course.  All  sorts  of  offers  were  made  him  for  associa 
tions,  co-partnerships,  and  sharers  in  his  future  promising 
enterprise.  But  Downer  and  Meyers  watched  him. 

"  Keep  it,  yourself,  Ely  —  "  said  Frank,  earnestly. 
"  Don't  give  it,  sell  it,  or  part  with  it  to  anybody.  You 
have  worked  for  it  like  a  Trojan,  and  you've  got  money 
enough  to  carry  on  your  business,  amply.  If  not,  call  on 
me,  whenever  you  need  aid.  Don't  allow  any  of  these 


336  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

'  anxious  mourners '  to  get  into  your  secret,  or  your 
pockets,  at  present." 

"  I  won't,  Frank  —  be  sure  of  it." 

"  And,  whatever  you  do,  Ely,"  continued  Reuben, 
advisedly,  "  don't  touch  any  partnership,  in  an  undertak 
ing  of  this  character.  It  is  yours  —  the  work  of  your  own 
brain,  your  own  toil,  and  your  long  years.  Keep  it,  and 
make  the  most  of  it.  Partnership  in  a  thing  of  this  kind, 
you'd  find  the  worst  ship  you  ever  sailed  in,  my  lad  !  " 

Ely  needed  no  such  urging.  He  had  clung  to  his  inven 
tion  from  the  outset,  with  remarkable  pertinacity ;  and  he 
had  nursed  his  bantling  for  years,  when  he  hadn't  money 
enough  to  pay  his  board-bill  from  month  to  month.  Now 
he  resolved  to  see  the  end  of  his  success,  alone. 

And  within  the  succeeding  three  or  four  years,  he  had 
his  4  hundred  thousand  dollars  gold '  laid  up  safely,  out 
side  of  his  then  increased  and  constantly  increasing  profit 
able  business. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FRANK  MEYERS  GETS  STRANGELY  BEFOGGED. 

MORRIS  DEANS  had  placed  his  lady  friend  Eunice 
Blount  in  charge  of  gallant  Frank  Meyers  at  the  Fair, 
while  he,  having  become  so  warmly  interested  in  Ely's 
operations,  crowded  his  way  up  beside  the  busy  young 
mechanic,  to  watch  his  progress  —  and  forgot  all  about 
the  young  lady,  for  the  time  being. 

He  knew  she  was  in  good  hands  however,  and  he 
enjoyed  the  scene  where  Ely  was  toiling  at  his  rival's  safe 
so  intensely,  that  several  hours  passed  before  he  remem 
bered  that  Eunice  had  been  left  with  Frank  in  a  distant 
part  of  the  great  Exhibition  rooms. 

Now  there  had  never  yet  passed  between  Morris  and 
Eunice  the  first  word  expressive  of  over-affectionate  con 
sideration  towards  each  other,  and  Morris  had  never  yet 
mentioned  to  Eunice  the  fact  that  he  was  especially 
devoted  to  her. 

They  had  dwelt  under  the  same  roof  together  for  sev 
eral  years.  Morris  had  come  into  her  father's  family  a 
spruce  city  lad,  who  ventured  upon  the  experiment  of 

337 


338  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

turning  his  hand  to  farming  and  stock-raising  because  he 
could  find  nothing  better  at  that  time  to  do,  through 
which  to  support  himself. 

He  had  succeeded  in  this  field  beyond  his  most  sanguine 
expectations.  And  he  continued  to  adhere  to  it,  because 
he  found  there  was  money  in  it,  if  well  followed.  He 
had  gone  on,  from  a  very  moderate  beginning,  until  he 
had  accumulated  over  fifty  thousand  dollars.  And  his 
prospect  was  never  so  good  as  it  now  was,  shortly  to 
realize  the  utmost  acme  of  his  hopes. 

"  I  will  have  my  '  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold,' 
yet !  "  he  said  quietly  to  himself,  in  these  later  days,  when 
he  remembered  that  for  a  long  period  he  had  been  quite 
willing  to  compromise  with  Fortune  for  the  possession  of 
ten,  or,  at  the  outside,  twenty  thousand. 

But  Morris  Deans  had  never  spoken  to  Eunice  Blount 
of  love.  He  was  very  much  attached  to  her.  He  had 
become  strongly  attracted  to  the  rich  farmer's  daughter, 
through  being  constantly  in  her  companionship  in  Blount's 
household.  On  her  part,  she  had  conceived  a  warm  re 
gard  for  him,  at  an  early  period. 

But  Morris  was  a  very  sensible  youth,  and  he  had 
entered  this  kind  old  man's  employ  to  do  his  duty  as  a 
workman.  And  he  had  no  leisure  to  talk  soft  nonsense  to 
Euny,  nor  did  he  consider  it  manly  or  honorable  to  make 
an}  pretensions  to  the  pretty  country  girl  which  possibly 
might  not  be  agreeable  to  either  her  father  or  her  mother 
—  and,  so  far  as  he  knew,  even  to  the  young  lady  herself. 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  339 

Still,  they  had  always  been  good  friends.  There  was 
no  need  of  urging  matters,  as  there  was  no  one  in  Morris's 
way,  had  he  entertained  any  feeling  towards  Eunice  be 
yond  that  of  respectful  admiration.  He  was  constantly 
with  her,  when  not  occupied  out  of  the  house,  and  nobody 
interfered  to  interrupt  the  pleasant  t6te-a-t£tes  these  un 
conscious  young  lovers  indulged  in. 

But  they  had  never  been  "  romantic."  And  while 
Eunice  was  always  to  be  seen,  and  from  the  very  beginning 
of  their  acquaintance  had  clearly  favored  Morris,  so  he 
went  quietly  along,  enjoying  her  society  in  a  rational  way, 
and  never  had  given  her  an  intimation  that  he  entertained 
any  disposition  towards  her  save  that  of  earnest  good 
friendship. 

He  had  taken  Eunice  down  to  the  great  Institute  Fair 
because  he  was  bound  to  be  there  himself,  and  because 
she  desired  to  witness  the  exhibition.  Morris  had  in 
trusted  her  to  Frank's  charge  because  he  desired  to  be  a 
near  witness  of  his  friend  Ely's  labors,  while  Meyers 
deemed  the  job  which  Hawes  had  undertaken  very  monoto- 
ous  work. 

Frank  found  himself  highly  pleased  with  Miss  Eunice 
Blount,  as  it  eventuated.  He  knew  nothing  about  the 
relations  that  existed  between  Morris  and  this  lady,  but 
he  made  up  his  mind  he  would  ascertain  how  these  two 
young  people  stood  affected  towards  each  other. 

To  say  truth,  it  was  rather  a  delicate  undertaking  to 
venture  on,  this  attempt  to  sound  the  young  woman  about 


340        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

whom  he  knew  so  little,  and  who  he  really  supposed  must 
long  since  have  been  betrothed  to  his  friend. 

There  was  a  bare  possibility  only  —  in  his  estimation  — 
that  this  might  not  be  the  case  ;  and  so  he  resolved  to  sat 
isfy  himself  of  the  facts,  in  the  politest  possible  manner. 

Miss  Eunice  was  a  charming  girl,  he  thought.  He  was 
vastly  delighted  with  her  naive  innocence,  and  ripe  beauty. 

They  sauntered  through  the  aisles  of  the  Institute 
rooms,  and  passed  several  hours  in  examining  the  various 
articles  exposed  for  exhibition  and  competition,  the  charac 
ter  of  which  Frank  Meyers  explained  to  Eunice,  who  was 
very  curious,  very  talkative,  very  pleasant,  and  very  com 
panionable,  as  Frank  discovered. 

They  got  very  well  acquainted  with  each  other,  during 
that  long  interesting  meeting,  and  the  friendly  conference 
they  enjoyed.  And  Frank  Meyers  absolutely  made  up  his 
mind  to  "  see  about  this  affair  !  " 

"  And  Morris  tells  me,"  observed  Eunice,  as  they 
loitered  along  leisurely,  "  that  you  and  he  are  old  com 
panions  ?  " 

"  Intimate  friends  from  boyhood,"  returned  Frank, 
enthusiastically. 

"  A  very  nice  young  man  he  has  proved,  within  our 
acquaintance,  at  Brandville,"  said  Eunice,  complimentarily. 

"  I  am  glad  to  know  that  my  old  chum  has  succeeded 
so  well,  at  farming,  as  I  hear  he  has,"  continued  Frank. 
"  But  Morris  is  a  driving  fellow,  and  a  very  worthy  young 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  341 

"  He  has  shown  himself  both  ambitious  and  skilful, 
since  he  came  to  Sunnyside,"  responded  Eunice,  "  and 
father  Blount  has  good  cause  to  value  him  for  his  talent 
and  usefulness,  both." 

After  a  while,  Miss  Eunice  invited  Meyers  to  visit 
4  Sunnyside,'  at  a  future  opportunity. 

"  We  shall  be  delighted  to  meet  you  there,  Mr.  Meyers, ' 
she  urged,  pleasantly. 

"  Who  —  Miss  ?  "  asked  Frank,  looking  straight  into  the 
beautiful  girl's  face. 

"  Me,  and  Morris,  and  father  Blount  —  all  of  us,"  re 
turned  Eunice,  cordially  and  innocently. 

"  Morris  ?  Well  —  perhaps  he  wouldn't  care  to  meet 
intruders  there,"  rejoined  Frank ;  a  suggestion  which 
Eunice  did  not  at  the  moment  appreciate  clearly,  it  was 
evident. 

"  Intruders  ?  No.  He  would  not,"  she  remarked. 
"  But  you  are  his  friend.  You  would  not  be  considered  an 
intruder,  surely." 

"  Well,  Miss  Eunice  —  that  depends  —  "  continued 
Meyers,  in  a  softened  tone. 

"  Upon  what  ?  "  asked  the  young  lady,  inquiringly. 

"  Well.  I  should  say  upon  what  your  relations  to  Mor 
ris  may  be,  Miss  Blount." 

"  My  relations  ?  " 

"  Yes.     Morris  is  very  fond  of  you,  I  think." 

"  Well,  I  know  that,"  said  Eunice,  archly,  "  and  I  am 
very  fond  of  him,  too." 


342        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  So  I  supposed,  Miss  Eunice.  And  therefore  I  say  he 
might  not  care  to  have  visitors  at  Sunnyside,  such  as  I 
am." 

"  Why  not,  pray  ?  " 

"  He  might  be  jealous,  you  see." 

"  Of  what  ?  " 

"  Of  you —  or  me,  perhaps.  And  I  am  really  his  friend. 
Now  —  tell  me,  Miss  Eunice.  Come  !  You  are  a  very  good 
frank  spoken  girl,  as  I  can  see.  You  love  Morris,  and  he 
loves  you,  I  do  not  doubt.  Are  you  under  any  obligations 
to  each  other  ?  " 

"  Obligations  ?     As  how  ?  " 

"  Beyond  those  of  friendship  ?  " 

"  No.  Isn't  that  quite  sufficient  —  if  we  are  true 
friends?" 

"  But  are  you  not  pledged  —  engaged  ?  " 

"  Engaged  in  what  ?  " 

"  Why,  Miss  Eunice,  you  surely  comprehend  me,  now  ?  " 
persisted  Meyers. 

"  Surely  I  don't,  then,  Mr.  Frank,"  insisted  the  girl. 

"  Morris  has  promised  to  marry  you,  of  course,"  ven 
tured  Frank,  squarely,  at  this  juncture. 

At  which  the  Sunnyside  beauty  halted,  withdrew  her 
arm  from  that  of  Meyers,  and  laughed  right  heartily  in 
his  face,  to  the  latter's  astonishment. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Meyers  ! "  she  exclaimed,  "  what  ever  put 
that  idea  into  your  head?" 

"  I  supposed  so,  Miss  Eunice,  naturally  —  upon  my 
word  I  did.  Isn't  it  so  ?  " 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  343 

"  Not  a  thought  of  it  —  I  assure  you,  Mr.  Frank." 

"  No  ?  And  has  he  never  proposed  to  you  ?  "  asked 
Frank,  eagerly. 

"Proposed?" 

"  Yes.     Has  he  not  offered  you  marriage  ?  " 

"  He  never  once  spoke  to  me  upon  that  subject,  I 
pledge  you  my  word  —  nor  gave  me  a  hint  akin  to  such 
an  idea  —  in  his  life !  " 

Mr.  Frank  Meyers  was  really  quite  surprised  at  the 
young  lady's  frankness  and  assurance.  Then  he  asked  — 

"  And  if  he  had  done  so,  Miss  Eunice  ?  " 

"  O,  I  should  then  know  how  to  reply  to  him.  But  1 
assure  you  again  he  never  did." 

44  Yet  you  have  a  tacit  understanding  between  you,  of 
course  ?  " 

"  About  what  ?  " 

"  Upon  this  very  interesting'  subject,  Miss." 

44  Have  we  ?  "  queried  Eunice. 

44  You  say  you  like  him,  vastly  ?  " 

«  Yes  —  I  do.     That  is  so." 

44  And  I  know  he  is  quite  attached  to  you." 

44  Does  he  say  this  ?  " 

44  No !  But  you  have  just  now  told  me  that  you  like 
him." 

44  So  I  do,  indeed." 

44  But  you  are  not  pledged  to  him  ?  " 

44  Not  at  all." 

44  Nor  to  any  other  gentleman  ?  " 


344        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  No.     Never." 

"  Then  I  will  accept  your  invitation,  Miss  Eunice,  with 
great  pleasure,"  added  Frank,  unhesitatingly. 

"  And  what  was  that  ?  " 

"  To  visit  Sunnyside,  Miss  Eunice." 

"But  Morris  may.be  jealous  —  you  suggest?"  said 
Eunice,  shrewdly. 

44  No.  I  am  mistaken.  I  thought  you  were  engaged  to 
be  married  to  each  other,  really." 

44  Oh,  no  !  " 

44 1  will  come  to  Sunnyside,  then,  Miss  —  at  an  early 
opportunity." 

44  We  shall  all  be  happy  to  see  the  friend  of  Morris 
Deans  there,  be  sure  of  it,"  returned  Eunice. 

44 1  am  told  it  is  a  nice  place  —  that 4  Sunnyside.' ' 

44  We  think  so." 

44  Well,  Eunice  — I  am  rich." 

*4  I'm  glad  of  that.  And  so  am  I,  they  tell  me  —  or 
shall  be,  one  day,  probably." 

44  And  Morris  ?  " 

44  O,  Morris  Deans  is  very  well-to-do,  I  assure  you,  Mr. 
Frank.  He  has  made  money,  in  the  last  five  years  —  so 
father  Blount  tells  me." 

44  And  your  father  is  fond  of  him  ?  " 

44  Devotedly.  Father  Blount  thinks  every  thing  of 
Moms.  So  does  mother.  And  so  do  I,  too.  He  s  a 
great  favorite  in  our  family,  and  always  has  been,"  con 
tinued  Eunice,  enthusiastically.  44  But  what  a  notion  was 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  345 

that  of  your  recent  suggestion  !  He  never  thought  of 
this,  I  really  do  not  believe,  Mr.  Frank." 

"  Well,  Miss  Eunice,  you  ought  to  be  best  informed 
upon  this  point,  assuredly." 

"  For  why  ?  "  continued  the  fair  girl,  innocently. 

"  Morris  Deans  has  been  in  your  family  several  years  ?  " 

"  Yes.  But  the  busiest  of  busy  workers  upon  the 
place." 

"  True.  Yet  it  seems  to  me  that  he  would  inevitably 
have  found  time  to  declare  himself,  nevertheless." 

"  What  about  ?  " 

Frank  Meyers  glanced  into  the  open  handsome  face  of 
his  interlocutor,  to  learn  if  she  were  not  toying  with  him. 
But  he  discovered  no  evidence  of  deceit  in  the  clear  eye 
and  innocent  expression  of  the  rustic  beauty's  counte 
nance.  Then  he  continued,  pleasantly  — 

"  I  am  out  in  my  reckoning,  I  see,  Miss.  Still,  I 
thought  —  from  this  long  association,  his  position,  your 
father's  admiration  of  him,  your  own  attractions,  Miss 
Eunice  —  all  taken  together  —  that  such  an  earnest  young 
fellow  as  Morris  Deans  has  always  been,  would  be  likely 
to  have  fallen  quite  in  love  with  such  a  nice  young 
woman,  in  the  midst  of  such  rare  opportunities  as  he 
must  have  enjoyed  at  Sunnyside." 

"  Perhaps  he  has,  then,"  replied  the  young  lady. 

"  But  I  say  you  ought  to  know  this,  surely,  if  it  were 
so." 

"Well  —  I  s'pose  I  had.  But  we  never  have  talked 
about  this  matter,  at  all." 


346  A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  That  is  strange,  then." 

"Is  it?    How?" 

"  Why,  that  two  such  young  people  should  in  this 
peculiar  manner  be  thrown  in  association,  at  your  ages, 
and  continue  so  long  thus  without  becoming  intimate." 

"  Why,  we  are  intimate." 

"  Yes.  But  you  have  never  exchanged  a  loving  word 
between  you !  " 

"  O,  yes.  Morris  is  always  very  kind  and  affectionate. 
But  he  is  not  demonstrative,  you  know,"  ventured  Eunice. 

44  No.  I  should  say  not !  "  concluded  Frank,  who  had 
seen  more  of  the  world  than  either  Morris  or  Eunice  had 
ever  dreamed  about,  at  quiet  Sunnyside. 

"  Here  he  is,  now,"  exclaimed  Eunice,  as  Morris,  who 
had  been  hunting  for  them,  approached  and  relieved  the 
smitten  city  lover  of  his  temporary  charge. 

"  Ah,  here  you  are  !  "  said  Morris,  offering  Eunice  his 
arm,  politely. 

"  And  where  have  you  been  loitering,  all  these  long 
hours?"  asked  Eunice. 

"  I  trust  you  have  been  pleasantly  occupied,  Euny," 
returned  her  friend. 

44  Oh,  very.  Mr.  Meyers  has  been  very  attentive,  and 
has  managed  to  amuse  me  wondrously,  I  assure  you, ' 
observed  the  young  lady,  without  explaining  how  ! 

44  Well.  The  contest  is  over,  and  Ely  Hawes  has  won," 
exclaimed  Morris,  delightedly. 

44 1  knew  he  would,"  added  Meyers. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  347 

And  a  few  moments  afterwards,  the  friends  got  together 
and  left  the  Institute  Hall  in  the  best  possible  spirits ; 
though  Frank  Meyers  had  become  completely  befogged  by 
the  interesting  conference  he  had  enjoyed  in  the  society 
of  the  belle  of  Brandville ! 

"  To  the  man  who  is  uncorrupt,"  murmured  Frank,  that 
j light,  "and  who  is  properly  constituted,  a  lovely  woman 
remains  ever  something  of  a  mystery,  as  well  as  a  romance. 
It  is  difficult  to  interpret  her,  quite  literally.  She,  on  her 
part,  is  constantly  striving  to  remain  a  poem,  and  rarely 
becomes  weary  in  the  work  of  bringing  out  new  editions 
of  herself  in  novel  bindings  ! 

"This  rustic  beauty  is  a  paradox  —  indeed.  But  if  I 
have  not  misinterpreted  her,  fair  Eunice  Blount  may  be 
honorably  won.  And  I  will  not  miss  my  opportunity,  on 
this  promising  occasion." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 
THE  TRAMP'S  STORY,  AND  BLOTJNT'S  OPINIONS. 

THE  village  of  Brand ville,  not  far  distant  from  Sunny- 
side  farm,  had  its  periodical  visitors  in  the  shape  of  tramps, 
who  wandered  up  and  down  the  country  in  all  directions 
—  idling  away  their  lives  and  loafing  about  from  spot  to 
spot,  picking  up  their  precarious  living. 

Too  indolent  to  work  —  though  they  always  pretended 
they  were  in  search  of  employment  —  they  roamed  over 
the  State  to  obtain  what  they  could  through  charity,  or 
petty  theft,  and  were  unknown  by  name  to  any  one. 
Still,  they  were  sharp  and  shrewd  in  their  way,  and 
managed  to  subsist.  But  one  half  this  world  know  little 
as  to  how  the  other  half  live  —  that  is  certain  ! 

This  assertion  may  be  appreciated  by  the  reader  who 
will  consult  the  illustration  on  page  331,  where  a  phase  of 
life  among  the  lowly  is  admirably  delineated.  From  this 
class  of  impoverished  city  boys,  these  country  tramps  are 
originally  largely  made  up. 

Bora  in  poverty,  brought  up  loosely  amid  indolence, 
want,  penury,  and  petty  vice,  they  approach  to  manhood 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  349 

without  trade,  calling,  or  education  —  and  wander  away 
oftentimes  into  the  interior  in  clans,  to  join  the  crowd  of 
older  idlers  who  thus  roam  over  the  state,  and  beg  or 
filch  their  living  from  the  charity,  the  fears,  or  the  indiffer 
ence  of  the  public. 

In  older  countries,  they  pass  for  "  gypsies."  In  this 
country,  they  are  simply  itinerant  beggars.  Our  picture 
shows  one  of  these  forsaken  boys,  who  has  trespassed  upon 
the  premises  of  a  well-to-do  store-keeper,  who  has  been 
annoyed  by  the  pilfering  and  mischief  of  lads  of  a  larger 
growth,  and  he  has  been  on  the  watch  latterly  to  ascertain 
who  may  be  the  petty  offenders  that  have  inconvenienced 
him  so  frequently. 

Turning  out  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  he  fancies 
he  has  discovered  the  cause  of  his  annoyance  —  and  he 
valiantly  goes  for  his  intended  victim. 

44  Now,  young  jackanapes !  What  are  you  doin'  here  ?  " 
demands  the  burly  grocer,  as  he  stands  whip  in  hand  over 
the  hogshead,  from  which  one  terrified  youngster  emerges 
in  hot  haste,  replying  as  he  springs  out  from  his  late 
humble  lodging-place  —  "  sleepin',  sir.  Don't  hit  me  !  I 
hain't  done  no  harm  there." 

"  A  sleeping  ?     Wot  do  yer  mean  by  that,  you  rogue  ?  " 

"  I  been  asleep  there,  las'  night,  sir.     That's  all." 

44  Asleep  ?     In  that  hogshe'd  ?  " 

44  Yis,  sir." 

44  Wot  for  ?  " 

44  'Cos  I  hadn't  no  other  place,  sir." 


350        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

44  Why  didn't  you  go  home  ?  " 

"  I  hain't  got  none." 

"Got  no  home?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Where  do  you  live  ?  " 

"  On  the  w'arves,  sir." 

"  On  the  wharves !  Why  —  God  bless  us  —  is  that  the 
way  you.  manage  ?  "  continued  the  big  grocer,  astonished 
and  not  a  little  softened,  as  he  gazed  at  the  trembling  lad 
before  him,  incredulously,  and  then  assumed  a  dispositio'n 
more  sympathetic. 

"  That's  where  we  sleep  w'en  we  can't  do  no  better, 
sir,"  continued  the  lad. 

"  Come  wi'  me,  then,"  decided  the  shop-keeper,  "  an' 
we'll  see.  An'  you  hain't  had  no  breakfast  ?  " 

"  No  sir.     Ner  supper  —  ner  dinner  eyther,  yisterday." 

"  Aren't  you  hungry,  boy  ?  " 

44  Awful,  sir." 

44  Who's  your  mate,  yonder  —  inside  ?  "  he  asked  — 
pointing  to  the  hogshead. 

44  My  brother." 

44  Call  him." 

44  You  won't  beat  us,  sir  ?  " 

44  No  !  Bring  him  along.  We'll  give  you  something  to 
eat.  And  then  we'll  see  what  can  be  done." 

The  two  boys  followed  the  mollified  grocer  up  the  lonely 
street,  and  within  an  hour  he  had  provided  them  both 
with  a  hearty  meal. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  351 

He  learned  the  true  story  of  these  two  poor  deserted 
lads,  and  subsequently  procured  them  both  good  places 
out  at  service  in  the  country,  where  they  fortunately  grew 
up  to  be  good  men,  years  afterwards. 

But  they  never  forgot  the  fright  that  came  over  them 
that  hot  morning,  when  the  portly  shop-keeper  hailed 
them  so  unceremoniously  after  their  free  night's  lodging 
together  in  the  empty  downjturned  sugar  hogshead,  upon 
the  town  wharf,  near  his  grocery. 

Of  such  as  these,  in  infancy,  are  made  a  majority  of  the 
wretched  itinerants  who  circulate  over  the  country  roads 
of  New  England  in  their  later  years  of  life  in  warm 
weather,  and  who  fill  our  alms-houses,  station-houses,  or 
jails,  in  winter  time  ! 

The  older  tramps  who  came  to  Brandville,  were  enjoy 
ing  their  4  nooning,'  one  warai  bright  day,  and  the  best 
talker  among  them  told  the  following  story  to  his  homely 
unkempt  mates,  as  they  sat  arou«d  him  and  listened  to  his 
narrative,  which  vastly  interested  his  idle  companions. 
(See  next  page.) 

"  She's  a  purty  cretur,"  said  the  itinerant,  "  an'  she's 
grow'd  up  wi'  mitey  good  stock  —  this  same  ole  farmer 
Bl'unt's  darter.  I've  know'd  her,  now,  fust  an'  last, 
more'n  fourteen  year.  She  wus  an  orflin." 

"  A  orflin  ? "  queried  one  of  his  hearers.  "  Wot's 
that?" 

"  O,  I  carn't  'splain —  ef  yer  don't  know,  Bob." 

"  A  orflin,"  observed  another  of  the  clan,  "  w'y  that's  as 


352 


A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLAiib    IN    GOLD. 


THE  TRAMP'S  STORY. 
That's  what's  the  matter  over  at  Sunnyside  farm,  lads." 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  353 

plain  as  a  mile-post.  We  are  all  orflins.  It's  a  boy  or  gal 
'at  hain't  got  no  father  ner  muther,  lads." 

"  Jess  so,  Spook.  Yer  right,"  said  the  first  speaker. 
And  then  he  continued  his  romance,  as  follows. 

"  Well,  this  gal  Euniss,  wot  ole  Bl'unt  calls  his  darter, 
wus  a  orflin.  She  aren't  his  own  chile,  though  her  mother 
^  as  a  Blount.  He  never  had  no  child'en.  I  know.  But 
this  gal  'at's  grow'd  up  to  be  sech  a  rite  out-an'-out  beauty, 
wus  leff  to  old  Bl'unt's  keer  by  a  distant  poor  relation, 
w'en  she  wus  a  baby.  She  don't  know  whar'  she  come 
from,  an'  she  never  know'd  no  parients  but  ole  Bl'unt  an' 
his  wife.  An'  they  think  the  world  of  'er,  to  be  sure.  So 
it's  jest  as  well. 

"  An'  she's  a  nice  gurl,  that's  a  fact.  She  never  turns 
none  ov  us  away  empty-handed,  w'en  we  goes  to  Sunny- 
side,  e}rther  hungered  or  lackin'  a  cast-off  jacket  or  shirt, 
yer  know." 

"  That's  so,"  interrupted  the  ugliest  looking  loafer  of 
the  clan.  "  But  I  mind  the  big  dog,  thar,  o'  late  —  never 
theless.  He  don't  like  us,  much  !  " 

"  Ah,  well.  Spot's  a  good  dog.  He  won't  hurt  no- 
buddy  'at  don't  go  to  filch  any  thin'  off  the  place,  lads. 
An'  don't  yer  ferget  this  now. 

"  Well  —  as  I  wus  a  sayin'  —  one  bright  arternoon, 
a'most  twenty  year  ago,  this  gal  (then  a  little  baby)  was 
brought  to  Sunnyside  by  a  play'd-out  poor  relation  of 
Bl'unt's,  an'  left  thar.  They  took  it  in,  an'  done  for  it, 
an'  got  to  lovin'  it,  's  if  it  war  the'r  own.  An'  now  tbey'r 


354        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

so  fond  ov'  'er,  'at  the  old  farmer  'iid  part  wi'  his  whole 
place  sooner'n  he'd  part  with  her,  I  can  tell  you. 

"  An'  the  old  man's  richer  'an  mud,  now.  Thirty  year 
ago,  farmer  Bl'unt  wusn't  wuth  rats  !  But  he  wus  a  hard 
worker  allers,  an'  he  was  a  lucky  dog.  Every  thin'  he  put 
his  hand  to,  turned  into  cash.  An'  he  piled  it  up,  arter  a 
w'ile." 

"  I'd  like  jess  sech  a  chance,"  muttered  Spook,  lazily. 

"  You?  Wy,  ef  a  siller  spoon  wus  put  inter  yeur 
mouth,  Spook,  you'd  drop  it  out  quicker'n  scat !  " 

"  I  mought,  yas." 

"  Yeur  too  lazy  to  make  a  dollar,  ef  yer  hed  never  so 
good  a  chance. 

"  Well,  I've  told  you  how  this  young  'ooman  come  to  old 
Bl'unt's,  an'  how  they've  made  a  lady  ov  'er.  Now  — jess 
see  wot  follers.  The  ole  farmer  goes  down  ter  Boston  a 
few  year  ago,  an'  he  runs  afoul  ov  a  lad  'at  wus  in  a  bank 
thar,  an'  he  takes  a  likin'  to  him,  too.  He  fetches  this 
boy,  twenty  year  old,  up  ter  the  place,  an'  sets  him  to 
work.  The  ole  man  larfed  w'en  he  did  it,  an'  said  4  it's  no 
go !  This  boy  wus  never  made  ter  do  nothin'  but  lay 
roun'  loose  among  other  people's  money-bags ;  an'  he  ain't 
wuth  shucks  on  a  farm,  surely.' 

"  But  the  lad  come  ter  time,  right  off.  An'  he  turned 
out  the  best  hand  ole  Bl'unt  ever  had  —  by  a  heap.  Ther' 
wus  nothin'  he  couldn't  do,  better'n  any  of  'em  he'd  ever 
hired.  An'  he's  gone  on  — a  makin*  money  fer  ole  Bl'unt, 
an'  some  fer  hisself,  'ntil  he's  well-to-do,  w'ile  the  ole 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  355 

man's  better  off,  by  thousands,  than  he  ever  wus,  through 
this  boy's  help. 

"  An'  wot  follers  all  that,  as  a  consekence  —  eh  ? " 
queried  the  tramp,  looking  into  the  stolid  faces  of  his  com 
panions. 

"  I  dunno,"  returned  one. 

"  Ner  I,"  added  another. 

"Wot?"  asked  Spook. 

"  Wai — the  gurl  falls  in  love  wi'  this  city  lad,  an'  he 
don't  go  back  on  'er  —  o'  coorse." 

"  An'  wot  o'  that  ?  " 

"  He'll  marry  'er  —  won't  he,  stoopid  ?  " 

"  I  dunno." 

"  No.  Yer  don't !  An'  it's  mitey  little  yer  do  know, 
any  way,"  retaliated  the  leading  tramp.  "  But  /  know. 
I've  heer'd  all  about  it,  up  t'  the  village.  An'  they're 
goin'  to  be  married  —  this  orflin  gal  an'  this  city  boy  that 
wus.  An'  it'll  be  a  nice  soft  thing  fer  him,  to  be  sure. 
She'll  be  old  Bl'unt's  heir  —  an'  he'll  be  rotten  rich,  by  the 
means.  That's  wot's  the  matter  up  't  Sunnyside  farm, 
lads. 

"  An'  it's  a  right  lively  match,  too.  ShS's  as  'ansome  as 
a  pictur,  an'  Morris  Deans's  smarter'n  litnin'.  Ef  yeu 
don't  b'lieve  wot  I  tell,  you  try  him  on  some  day,  in  a 
trade  —  ef  yer  can  come  to  it,  an'  see.  He  knows  more 
'bout  bosses,  an'  cattil,  an'  sech  like,  'an  all  the  farmers  in 
this  Valley — young  as  he  is.  But  he  'tends  to  his  biz', 
ev'ry  time  now,  sure's  yer  alive.  An'  he  knows  wot's  wot. 


356        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Ole  El'iint's  wuth  more'n  a  hunder'd  thousan'  dollers, 
terday.  An'  Morris  Deans  '11  be  wuth  as  much  as  that  'n 
less'n  ten  year,  mind  wot  I  tell  yer." 

The  tramps  had  smoked  their  clay  pipes  out,  by  this 
time — but  they  had  been  unusually  interested  in  their 
leader's  tale. 

"  It's  a  good  yarn,  ef  it's  true,"  suggested  Spook,  rising 
and  knocking  the  ashes  out  of  his  exhausted  dudeen,  in 
his  habitual  leisurely  manner. 

"  That's  just  wot's  the  history  o'  the  Bl'unt  crowd, 
then,"  insisted  the  tramp.  "  They  begun  from  nuth'n,  an' 
they've  got  a  pile  o'  money  'mongst  'em,  terday  —  sure's 
preechin.'  The  orflin  gal's  the  purtiest  in  the  County, 
the  city  lad's  the  smartest  young  farmer'n  this  part  o'  the 
State,  an'  the  Bl'unts  ar'  as  good  a  pair  as  ever  grow'd  on 
the  C'netticut  River." 

The  five  tramps  rose  to  their  feet,  looked  about  them, 
and  exchanging  the  customary  signs,  at  separating,  they 
went  their  way,  in  different  directions,  upon  the  forlorn 
hunt  for  their  suppers  and  the  coming  night's  lodgings. 

They  had  no  aim,  they  possessed  no  spark  of  ambition 
to  be  anybod}%  or  to  do  any  lawful  thing  for  a  decent  live 
lihood —  save  tramp,  tramp,  tramp. 

And  yet  they  lived. 

They  went  and  came,  and  were  poorly  fed  and  clad, 
through  the  charity  of  those  who  either  pitied  them  or 
gave  of  their  surplus  to  get  rid  of  the  offensive  presence 
around  them  of  these  poor  creatures,  who  are  tolerated  in 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  357 

society's  midst  all  over  the  interior  of  our  country  —  and 
who  multiply  astonishingly  in  all  directions,  unfortunately, 
in  the  later  years  among  us  ! 

In  the  year  1875,  while  we  write  these  lines,  this  miser 
able  race  of  indigent  and  listless  beings  have  come  to  be  a 
crying  nuisance  indeed,  in  all  quarters  —  notably  in  the 
interior  of  Massachusetts. 

While  the  majority  of  the  common  tramps  have  been 
hitherto  comparatively  harmless,  amidst  their  wanderings 
—  in  the  later  days  there  have  cropped  out  among  these 
cliques  bad  men,  who  have  been  guilty  of  robbery,  assault, 
and  criminal  acts  of  a  graver  character,  in  numerous 
instances. 

The  press  throughout  New  England  have  taken  this 
subject  in  hand,  vigorously,  and  some  of  the  State  Legisla 
tures  have  adopted  new  and  stringent  statutes  in  reference 
to  these  marauding  pests  ;  though,  up  to  this  writing,  with 
out  much  effect,  unfortunately. 

They  are  devoid  of  all  active  principles,  and  exist  only 
from  hand  to  mouth ;  and  yet  in  the  sunshiny  days  of 
summer  these  miserable  tramps  seem  to  take  things  very 
philosophically,  and  quietly,  as  if  it  were  all  right  with 
them,  and  there  was  no  higher  plane  to  move  up  to. 

On  page  352  we  give  an  illustration  of  samples  of  these 
public  dead-beats,  in  a  picture  where  the  leading  tramp  is 
telling  what  he  knows  about  the  Blount  family. 

In  the  main,  the  narrative  was  true.  Miss  Eunice  was 
an  orphan.  But  Farmer  Blount  and  his  good  wife  loved 


358        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

and  cherished  her  as  if  she  had  been  of  their  own  flesh 
and  blood. 

She  never  knew  the  love  of  father  or  mother  other  than 
that  of  those  whom  she  had  dutifully  called  by  those 
endearing  titles,  from  babyhood.  Ancl  she  had  no  need  to 
think  of  other  relatives  —  near  of  kin,  or  distant ;  for,  all 
that  parents  could  be  to  a  child,  old  farmer  Blount  and 
his  wife  had  been  to  pretty  Eunice,  from  her  infancy. 

Farmer  Simon  Slow  came  over  to  Sunnyside  to  chat 
with  farmer  Blount,  not  infrequently,  when  the  latter 
had  come  to  be  the  portly  well-to-do  leisurely  country 
gentleman,  at  last. 

Old  Blount  was  always  gracious,  pleasant  and  talkative, 
but  he  had  a  mind  of  his  own  and  he  never  hesitated  to 
argue  his  convictions  for  the  edification  of  those  who 
sought  his  opinions  —  whoever  they  might  be,  or  whatever 
the  subject  under  consideration. 

The  village  postmaster  was  a  warm  appreciative  friend 
of  Blount's,  and  like  Jack  Bunsby,  he  was  disposed  to 
maintain  that  the  old  farmer's  assumption  was  "  an 
opinion  as  was  an  opinion,"  upon  all  occasions  when  he 
chanced  to  be  present  during  a  discussion. 

"  He  carries  his  p'ints,"  insisted  the  postmaster,  "  every 
time.  And  you  can't  dodge  'em." 

Farmer  Slow  happened  to  meet  this  petty  officer  at 
Sunnyside  one  afternoon,  when  the  old-style  yeoman  got 
into  a  debate  with  Blount. 

Morris  Deans  was  near  by,  too,  and  he  always  took  an 


HOW  TO   MAKE   IT.  359 

earnest  delight  in  seeing  Blount  vanquish  his  contestants, 
especially  when  his  own  favorite  theories  concerning 
modern  farming  or  live  stock-raising  were  in  question. 

44  There's  plenty  o'  room  up  on  top,"  said  farmer 
Blount.  44  You  must  mount,  Simon.  Go  up  —  and  onward. 
They'll  crowd  you,  down  below  —  always.  But  if  you 
get  up,  on  the  outer  surface,  you  will  find  ample  working 
and  breathing  space  there.  Quit  the  old  ruts.  Go  for 
ward.  And,  be  sure  of  it,  you  can  only  triumph  by 
advancing.  No  matter  how  carefully  you  do  this.  But 
never  go  backwards,  and  never  halt.  Thus  you  may 
win." 

Old  Blount  then  gave  his  slow  neighbor  some  useful 
hints  in  managing  his  stock  and  his  farm,  which  Simon 
dutifully  but  dubiously  listened  to. 

44  We  are  all  too  prone  I  know,  Simon,"  advisedly  con 
tinued  farmer  Blount,  44  to  embark  in  enterprises  that 
seem  to  have  thousands  in  them  ;  and  many  of  us  look 
for  perennial  crops,  or  unreasonably  big  returns,  in  our 
new  undertakings. 

44  Fancy  chicken-raising  is  a  mania,  but  a  vast  improve 
ment  is  already  made  upon  our  old-time  barnyard  fowls, 
with  the  later  foreign  bloods.  Our  horses  and  cattle  and 
sheep  are  two,  three,  five  hundred  per  cent  better,  and  far 
more  profitable  legitimately,  than  the  breeds  you  and  I 
raised  twenty  years  ago.  Bat  the  hens  that  lay  two  eggs 
a  day  are  not  found  yet ;  and  the  cow  that  gives  her 
twenty-four  quarts  o'  milk  a  day  even  in  clover-time,  is 
very  rare,  to  be  sure. 


360        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

"  Some  of  us  attempt  to  improve  the  garden-sass,  and  a 
neighbor  is  turning  out  what  he  calls  mushrooms,  for  the 
city  hotels,  o'  late.  He  has  done  this  to  profit.  But  a 
dozen  others  will  attempt  it,  who  don't  know  a  real  mush 
room  from  a  toadstool,  or  a  hole  in  the  ground.  They  will 
fail,  through  ignorance  in  management. 

"  And  yet  all  these  things  are  very  simple,  when  you 
know  how  to  accomplish  what  you  undertake.  It  took 
me  six  years  to  find  out  how  to  put  yender  meadow  in 
good  tilth.  But  you  remember  the  old  swamp  there, 
Simon,  ten  year  ago,  eh  ? 

"  We  aren't  born  with  hereditary  experience,  mind  you. 
We  live  to  learn.  And  we  must  study,  work,  experiment 
judiciously,  and  acquire  a  knowledge  of  our  business, 
to  win  in  the  end.  We  should  feel  our  way,  and  look 
before  we  jump  —  o'  course.  But  we  must  go  0n,  all  the 
time,  in  this  age  of  progress ;  or  we  shall  be  run  down  or 
over-slaughed.  I  say  it's  all  simple  —  but  it  must  be 
attended  to. 

"The  merest  boy  with  his  bean-shooter  —  if  he  buckles 
right  down  to  it  —  can  make  all  Brandville  respect  his 
ideas,  and  prefer  his  friendship,  Simon.  And  this  pithy 
assertion  of  Mr.  Billings  is  very  truthful  —  that  a  single 
lively  determined  wasp,  upon  the  rampage,  will  break  up 
a  camp-meeting,  easy. 

"  You  and  I  have  been  worried  in  past  years  with  the 
potato-bug,  and  the  apple-borer.  Now  study,  among  the 
diligent  scientific  men,  has  latterly  discovered  an  insect 
that  will  destroy  the  potato-bug." 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  361 

"  Sho  !  Yer  don't  say  so  ?  "  exclaimed  Simon  —  foi 
this  hint  was  especially  interesting  to  him. 

"  Yes.  They  have  found  this  worm.  •  But  they  have 
found  too  that  he  eats  his  way  into  the  potato,  first,  and 
lays  in  wait  there  for  the  other  pest.  But  while  he  waits, 
he  eats  —  and  the  bulb  suffers.  What  we  must  do  next, 
is,  to  discover  the  bug  that  will  be  satisfied  to  eat  only 
the  bug  that  kills  the  original  bug,  after  he  has  per 
formed  this  good  office,  you  see.  Then  we'll  have  reached 
the  right  thing,  in  that  direction.  But  it  all  takes  time,  I 
know.  Yet  we  must  keep  at  it  —  and  live  and  study,  and 
practise,  to  learn  and  appreciate." 

"  He's  makin'  p'ints,  now,"  said  the  elated  postmaster, 
eagerly  watching  Blount's  arguments,  and  noticing  their 
effect  upon  his  immediate  listener. 

Then  taking  up  a  spade  close  at  hand,  with  a  bit  of 
chalk  the  village  official  commenced  to  mark  them  down ; 
while  Morris  Deans,  as  deeply  interested  as  the  other 
friend,  pointed  in  triumph  to  the  record,  as  Blount 
clinched  his  opinions,  and  the  Brandville  postmaster  duly 
noted  the/'  points,"  in  tally — as  portrayed  in  the  illustra 
tion  on  page  367. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  FRIENDS   ALL  MEET  AT   '  SUNNYSIDE.' 

MORRIS  and  Eunice  tarried  in  New  York  but  a  day  or 
two  after  the  close  of  the  Exhibition. 

The  young  farmer  asked  no  questions,  and  the  innocent 
girl  vouchsafed  no  details  to  Deans,  regarding  what  had 
transpired  between  herself  and  Frank  at  the  Institute 
rooms. 

She  was  thoughtful,  nevertheless,  and  Morris  did  not 
fail  to  notice  this,  upon  their  return  to  Blount's  residence. 

Perhaps  the  unanticipated  hints  which  Meyers  had 
made  aroused  certain  speculative  thoughts  in  the  fair 
maiden's  heart,  and  not  unlikely  was  it  that  Morris  awoke 
—  subsequently  —  and  "  took  in  the  situation,"  at  length, 
as  events  soon  afterwards  indicated.  But  his  friend  Mr. 
Frank  Meyers  was  an  upright  trusty  young  man,  in  all 
respects,  and  did  not  know  how  to  go  about  committing  a 
dishonorable  act. 

Still,  he  could  not  divest  himself  of  the  conviction, 
since  Miss  Eunice  Blount  was  fairly  4  in  the  market,' 
(according  to  her  own  frank  admissions,)  that  he  had  the 

362 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  363 

right  to  make  an  effort  to  win  this  country  beauty.  And 
he  essayed  this  little  undertaking,  with  a  will. 

"  Morris  Deans  is  a  privileged  member  of  the  household 
at  Sunnyside,  evidently,"  he  said  to  himself  on  reflection, 
the  night  after  the  Fair.  "He  has  been  resident  there 
boy  and  man  six  or  seven  years.  This  artless  ingenuous 
young  lady  has  grown  up  with  Morris,  in  her  father's 
house,  and  very  likely  —  although  they  may  be  fond  of 
each  other,  as  Miss  Eunice  states  —  it  is  merely  a  common 
place  fraternal  feeling  that  animates  them,  and  there  is 
probably  no  love  existing  between  them. 

"  Now,  though  this  is  a  remarkable  instance,  it  is  cer 
tainly  strange  that  Morris  has  not  made  some  declaration, 
under  the  circumstances.  And  /  fancied  they  were 
engaged,  as  a  matter  of  course. 

"  But  she  says  no.  And  furthermore,  she  declares  that 
not  the  slightest  intimation  has  ever  been  suggested  by 
Morris,  in  reference  to  any  contemplated  serious  intentions 
he  may  have  entertained  towards  this  nice  young  lady. 

"  Possibly  he  has  no  such  intent,  or  purpose.  Very 
likely,  this  is  so  —  on  farther  thought.  Morris  Deans  was 
never  much  of  a  lady's  man,  any  way,"  continued  Frank 
Meyers,  as  he  looked  over  the  prospect,  and  indulged  his 
quiet  speculations  regarding  the  Sunnyside  people. 

"  I'll  go  up  there,  at  all  events,"  concluded  Frank.  "  No 
harm  in  that.  She's  altogether  a  charming  girl,  to  be 
sure — is  Miss  Eunice.  She  invited  me  to  visit  her. 
What  for  ?  Morris  has  made  no  approaches,  it  seems- 


364        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

He  don't  want  to  get  married.  He  isn't  a  marrying  man, 
I  suppose.  I  am  rich,  I  shall  shortly  be  at  my  leisure,  and 
I've  no  doubt  Eunice  favors  me.  Though,  what  a  simple- 
hearted  beauty  she  is,  indeed  !  Frank,  open,  and  unaffect 
ed  as  a  child  —  and  yet  she  must  be  five  and  twenty,  at 
the  least. 

"  I  wouldn't  mind  getting  married,  and  I  should  be  glad 
vO  settle  down  somewhere  in  comfort  and  ease,"  continued 
Meyers.  "  This  young  lady  would  make  me  a  good  wife, 
no  doubt.  I  will  go  to  Sunnyside,  and  learn  just  what  the 
situation  is.  Morris  Deans  —  if  he  doesn't  want  to  marry 
Eunice  himself — can  of  course  have  no  objection  to  his 
friend's  making  himself  agreeable  to  the  beautiful  country 
girl.  I'll  try  it  on.  I  think  Miss  Eunice  was  pleased  with 
me,  at  the  Fair.  I  reckon  it  will  all  come  around  right. 
The  boys  are  going  up,  in  response  to  Morris's  invitation, 
and  I  will  go  at  the  same  time.  We  shall  see." 

Frank  Meyers  was  really  very  hopeful.  He  was  an  hon 
orable  young  gentleman,  worthy  of  pretty  Miss  Eunice,  or 
any  equally  admirable  young  lady.  He  was  rich,  of  good 
habits,  and  was  fairly  smitten  with  the  Sunnyside  charm 
er's  attractive  manners  and  simplicity  of  character.  So 
artless  and  comely  a  girl,  in  town  or  country,  it  had  never 
been  the  good  fortune  of  handsome  stylish  Frank  Meyers 
yet  to  encounter.  And  he  was  quite  ready  to  acknowl 
edge  this  to  Miss  Eunice  herself. 

But  he  was  prudent,  as  well  as  impulsive.  And  he 
deemed  it  but  just  to  Morris  first  to  ascertain  what  hit 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  365 

position  actually  was  in  the  premises,  and  whether  he 
made  or  had  any  prior  claims  upon  farmer  Blount's 
handsome  daughter.  If  the  coast  were  clear  (and  he 
hoped  and  believed  it  was,)  Frank  resolved  to  win  fair 
Eunice  Blount,  and  marry  her,  at  an  early  day. 

This  was  his  present  plan,  and  when  the  friends  went 
up  to  the  Blount  farm  together,  a  few  weeks  afterwards, 
both  Downer  and  Hawes  observed  that  their  companion 
Frank  was  in  exuberant  spirits  at  the  prospective  pleasure 
they  were  about  to  enjoy,  in  this  trip.  But  he  took  care  to 
enter  into  no  explanation  of  the  motive  that  actuated  him, 
in  this  demonstratioD,  and  no  one  suspected  the  nature  of 
his  real  thoughts  and  hopes. 

"  We  shall  have  an  elegant  time,  lads,  at  Sunnyside,"  he 
said,  happily,  at  the  start.  "  This  old  man  Blount  is 
wealthy,  and  he  has  accumulated  his  property  by  hard 
work  and  settled  application  to  one  chosen  pursuit,  which 
he  has  adhered  to  faithfully,  from  boyhood." 

"  His  family  must  be  a  very  interesting  household," 
rejoined  Ely.  "  The  lady  Blount  is  said  to  be  a  charming 
person,  and  the  proprietor  of  Sunnyside  is  described  as  a 
most  worthy  good  gentleman  of  the  old  school.  They 
will  no  doubt  give  the  former  companions  of  their  favorite, 
Morris  Deans,  a  hearty  welcome." 

"  And  then  there's  the  pretty  daughter,  too,"  suggested 
Reuben.  "  She's  a  marvellously  fine  specimen  of  the  true 
woman,  I  judge  —  though  she  seems  simplicity  itself,  in 
her  manners.  Morris  is  very  sweet  on  her,  and  he  will 


366        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

secure  a  jewel,  in  that  girl,  I  predict,  when  he  makes  her 
his  wife  —  as  I  presume  he  will,  from  appearances." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind  has  as  yet  been  suggested,  in  that 
direction,"  returned  Meyers,  confidently.  "  Not  a  bit  of  it. 
It  looked  that  way,  certainly.  But  I  happen  to  know  that 
never  a  word  has  been  exchanged  between  those  two 
young  people,  on  this  interesting  subject." 

44  That  is  singular,  then,"  said  Downer,  thoughtfully. 
44  I  supposed  they  were  engaged  to  be  married,  long 
ago." 

44  No.  They  are  simply  good  friends,"  insisted  Frank. 
44  They  have  been  in  constant  familiar  contact,  for  years ; 
but  neither  of  them  ever  expressed  a  syllable  that  pointed 
to  any  feeling  or  disposition  other  than  that  of  ordinary 
friendly  admiration." 

44  There's  a  good  chance  there,  then,  for  some  enterpris 
ing  young  man,"  added  Ely.  44  Miss  Eunice  is  certainly  a 
very  lovable  young  lady,  as  far  as  I  am  a  judge  of  such 
matters." 

Meyers,  Downer,  and  Hawes  reached  Brandville  to 
gether,  and  Morris  Deans  received  them  with  heartfelt 
cordiality.  Old  Blount  and  his  wife  were  exceedingly 
affable  and  attentive  to  the  New  York  friends  of  Morris"! 
and  Miss  Eunice  was  delighted  to  meet  the  three  gentle 
men,  whom  she  welcomed  to  Sunnyside,  right  earnestly 
and  cheerfully. 

They  found  the  Blount  estate  at  this  time  a  splendid 
country  place.  The  broad  acres  of  the  farm  were  in  high 


"Xow  he's  niakin'  p'ints."  s*nd  the  village  postmaster.  And  tnkinc:  up  a  spade,  he 
marked  them  down  with  a  bit  of  chalk,  as  Deans  pointed  Simon  Slow  to  the  record 
triumphantly.  [CHAP,  xxv  page  361. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  369 

tilth,  and  the  neat  stock,  horses,  and  sheep  were  in  fine 
condition.  Mrs.  Blount  was  exceedingly  gracious  and 
pleasant,  and  the  city  residents  were  vastly  gratified  with 
their  reception  and  generous  treatment  during  this  agree 
able  visit. 

When  the  four  friends  sat  down  together,  at  length,  to 
chat  over  past  days  and  present  prospects  — "  it  seems 
like  the  old  times,  boys,"  began  Morris,  "  to  get  all  to 
gether,  once  more.  I  am  very  happy  to  meet  you  here, 
I  assure  you.  And  while  you  tarry,  make  yourselves  at 
home.  Jam  quite  at  home  here,  I  assure  you." 

•fc  So  it  appears,"  responded  Downer.  "  And  you've 
made  the  most  of  your  opportunity  here,  Morris,  as  I 
knew  you  would.  I  congratulate  you  on  your  success, 
hitherto,  and  upon  your  promising  prospects  still  ahead. 
You  have  done  well,  Morris.  And  you  have  deserved 
your  good  fortune,  I  am  glad  to  know." 

"  The  times  are  changed,  to-day,  lads,"  observed  Ely, 
"  from  what  they  were  in  the  years  ago,  when  we  four 
pennyless  young  men  began,  and  were  struggling  with 
Fortune,  eh  ?  "  ' 

"  That's  so  !  "  added  Morris.  "  I  am  content.  My 
means  have  accumulated  far  beyond  the  mark  I  had  set 
for  a  competency.  While  the  rest — you,  Downer,  Frank, 
and  Ely  —  have  all  compassed  more  than  your  originally 
coveted  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold,  I  am  happy 
to  hear." 

"  And    Fred  Fordham  is  piling  up  money  also,  I  am 


370  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

informed,"  said  Meyers.  "  His  firm  are  very  prosperous 
now,  and  they  are  all  getting  rich.  I  wish  he  were  with  us 
here.  He  would  enjoy  this,  vastly,  and  it  would  complete 
the  circle,  Morris.  Why  didn't  you  think  to  invite  Fred 
up,  and  Fannie  and  the  babies  ?  It  would  have  been  very 
agreeable  to  meet  them  here." 

"  I  did  not  forget  it,  Frank.  They  were  all  to  have 
been  here  last  night  —  for  a  visit  of  two  weeks.  They 
will  be  up  to-day,  probably." 

And  so  it  eventuated.  On  the  second  evening  after  the 
arrival  of  the  New  York  guests,  Fred  and  his  family  came 
from  Boston  —  and  a  right  cheery  greeting  was  enjoyed, 
when  the  friends  got  together  at  beautiful  Sunnyside 
farm,  after  years  of  separation. 

Morris  cordially  received  all  his  old  companions  with 
open  palm.  And  each  could  now  fortunately  exclaim  to 
his  chum  of  former  time  — 

"  Your  hand,  old  boy!     The  days  are  past 

When  we,  tried  friends,  were  all  so  poor. 
And  Fortune  brings  us  here,  at  last  — 

Together  —  hopeful  as  of  yore. 
But  months  have  flown,  and  years  have  sped, 

Since  nought  but  woes  we  brooded  o'er; 
And  now  those  early  fears  are  dead. 

The  days  are  gone,  when  we  were  poor!  " 

There  was  ample  room  for  the  convenience  and  comfort 
of  them  all  at  the  Blount  mansion  ;  and  what  with  the 
rides  and  drives,  and  walks  and  country  parties,  the  good 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  371 

cheer  and  the  pleasant  companionship  of  these  happy  folk, 
all  round,  a  highly  enjoyable  week  was  passed  at  this  fine 
old  place ;  where  farmer  Blount  and  his  household  exerted 
themselves  untiringly  to  render  everybody  happy  and  at 
their  ease,  when  under  this  hospitable  roof. 

The  conservatory  was  in  its  most  attractive  condition, 
and  the  garden  flower-beds  had  been  set  out  but  a  week 
prior  to  the  coming  of  the  visitors.  The  weather  was 
warm,  but  not  hot  yet.  It  was  late  in  May,  and  the  sea 
son  was  most  delightful. 

Morris  had  a  dozen  nice  young  horses  in  the  stables. 
Downer  and  Ely  rode  over  the  country,  up  and  down 
the  river's  margin,  to  and  about  the  pretty  neighboring 
villages,  or  went  fishing  and  roving  in  the  woods  and  over 
the  fields,  continually. 

Morris  and  Fred  were  out  about  the  farm,  admiring  the 
choice  live  stock.  And  Frank  paid  quiet  court  to  Eunice, 
upon  every  possible  opportunity,  during  his  visit  —  grow 
ing  more  and  more  interested  in  this  charming  girl,  as  he 
became  better  acquainted  with  her ;  and  really  indulging 
at  last  in  "  great  expectations  "  regarding  his  future,  in 
connection  with  the  fate  of  sweet  Eunice  Blount. 

On  her  part  —  strange  as  it  was  that  she  had  never 
given  Morris  the  opportunity  to  declare  himself,  up  to  the 
time  they  went  down  to  the  New  York  Fair  together  —  it 
was  stranger  still  that  she'  did  not  appreciate  the  ardent 
attentions  and  fine  speech  that  Frank  Meyers  had  latterly 
addressed  to  her.  She  never  once  suspected  his  designs, 
or  his  inclinations  towards  her ! 


372        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

But  he  had  come  up  from  the  metropolis  mainly  to 
satisfy  himself  "  how  the  land  lay,"  between  Morris 
and  Eunice.  So  he  exerted  himself  during  his  entire  stay 
at  Sunnyside  to  make  a  favorable  impression  upon  Miss 
Eunice  and  her  father's  family.  And  Frank  succeeded  in 
this,  to  admiration. 

But  —  when  he  came  at  last  to  the  day  before  they  were 
all  to  quit  Sunnyside,  on  their  return  to  New  York  —  and 
Frank  ventured  to  make  an  open  declaration  of  love  to 
Eunice,  the  gentle  girl  woke  up,  and  quickly  disenchanted 
her  anxious  city  lover  —  greatly  to  his  surprise  ! 

They  were  in  the  Conservatory  together  —  Eunice  and 
Meyers.  And  Frank  had  not  up  to  this  time  had  the  op 
portunity  he  desired  to  '  speak  his  mind'  clearly.  Now  he 
thought  his  chance  presented  itself,  favorably.  They 
were  alone  —  and  he  spoke  of  the  prospective  parting, 
that  would  ensue  on  the  following  day. 

"  And  you  are  wearied  with  Sunnyside,  I  suppose,"  sug 
gested  Eunice,  pleasantly.  "  There  are  few  attractions 
here  for  you  city  gentlemen,  I  know." 

"  I  never  passed  a  happier  week  in  my  life,  Miss  Eunice, 
than  that  which  has  just  ended,  here,  and  I  assure  you 
that  we  all.  leave  Sunnyside  reluctantly.  For  myself,  I 
have  something  more  than  this  to  say,  though,  Eunice. 
Will  you  listen  to  me  ?  " 

"  Am  I  not  always  attentive  to  what  you  say,  Mr. 
Frank  ?  " 

"  O,  yes.     But  now   I   am   about  to   leave   you,  Miss 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  373 

Eunice.  I  have  become  very  much  attached  to  you.  And 
since  you  assured  me,  when  in  New  York,  that  my  friend 
Morris  or  no  other  gentleman  had  ever  made  proposals  for 
your  hand,  in  marriage,  I  venture  to  lay  my  fortune  and 
my  heart  at  your  feet,  Miss  Eunice.  I  am  not  unworthy 
of  your  favor,  I  trust — and  I  should  be  proud  to  make 
the  fair  daughter  of  Mr.  Blount  my  wife." 

"Why — Mr.  Meyers!"  exclaimed  Eunice,  halting  in 
the  great  avenue  among  the  flowers,  and  extending  her 
right  hand  kindly  towards  him,  with  unaffected  surprise, 
but  no  emotion  —  "  how  could  you  bring  yourself  to  make 
such  a  mistake  as  this,  pray  ?  " 

"Mistake  — Eunice?" 

44  Most  certainly,  Mr.  Frank." 

"  As  how,  then  ?  "  returned  Frank,  straightening  him 
self  up,  and  returning  her  gaze  of  astonishment  with  a 
look  of  firm  earnestness.  "  How  have  I  erred,  Miss 
Eunice  ?  " 

44  You  have  entirely  misapprehended  me,  my  dear  Mr. 
Frank  —  while  I  had  never  suspected  you,  in  our  late 
pleasant  intercourse.  That  is  all,"  said  Eunice,  kindly. 

44  Misapprehend  you  ?  "  ejaculated  Meyers,  44  in  what 
way  ?  You  have  been  very  candid  with  me,  I  am  sure. 
And  I  thought  I  could  understand  plain  English,  Miss 
Eunice." 

44  But  surely,  Mr.  Frank,  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to 
admit  that  I  have  not  encouraged  you  to  make  this  propo 
sal  to  me,  in  earnest !  "  said  Eunice,  courteously. 


374  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

"  You  informed  me  that  no  such  proposition  had  ever 
yet  been  made  you,  Eunice  ;  and  I  thought  I  thus  had  the 
right  to  make  you  the  honorable  offer  I  have  now  ven 
tured  to  suggest,"  replied  Meyers,  affably. 

"  When  I  was  in  New  York,"  said  Eunice,  "  I  did  maKe 
this  statement,  I  remember.  And  it  was  true.  Up  to 
that  time,  I  had  never  heard  a  word  upon  such  a  subject." 

"  Yes.     That  was  what  you  said." 

"  When  we  returned  to  Sunnyside,  Mr.  Frank,  my  dear 
old  friend  Morris  Deans  took  an  opportunity,  within  a 
week,  to  do  just  what  you  now  have  done !  " 

"  He  offered  himself,  formally  ?  " 

"  He  did.  And  I  accepted  his  kindly  proffer,  with  all 
my  heart;  for  you  know  I  was  very  fond  of  him,  long  years 
agone.  And  we  are  now  engaged  to  be  married,  Mr. 
Frank.  This  is  a  sufficient  answer  to  your  proposal  —  is 
it  not?" 

"  Quite  sufficient,  Miss  Eunice,"  returned  Meyers,  a 
little  chap-fallen,  and  really  disappointed  at  his  non- 
success  with  the  country  beauty. 

"  Still,  I  congratulate  you,  Eunice,  and  I  will  congratu 
late  my  friend  Morris.  I  would  have  been  a  happy  man, 
indeed,  had  the  way  been  open  for  you  to  have  accepted 
my  offer.  But  not  at  his  cost,  believe  me.  You  could 
not  have  made  a  better  choice,  Miss  Eunice.  But  I  still 
think  my  young  friend  has  shown  himself  very  tardy  in 
his  declaration.  However,  I  give  you  joy,  in  advance. 
Now — you  and  I  will  forget  this  mistake,  which  I  have 
blundered  into ;  but  you  will  none  the  less  allow  me  to 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  375 

assure  you  of  my  continuous  friendship.  When  does  the 
happy  event  come  off,  Eunice  ?  "  asked  Frank,  pleasantly. 

"  O,  by  and  by.  Three  months,  or  six  months  hence. 
There  is  no  hurry.  We  are  constantly  in  each  other's 
society,  and  both  father  and  mother  are  delighted  with  our 
prospective  plan,  Mr.  Frank." 

"  When  you  are  married,  Eunice,  I  bespeak  the  post  of 
groomsman  beside  my  friend  Morris." 

"  That  will  be  splendid,  Frank !  And  you  shall  be 
notified  in  good  time,  be  sure  of  it." 

"  Thanks,  Eunice." 

"  Now  we  comprehend  each  other  ?  "  queried  the  girl, 
with  a  pleasant  turn  to  the  conversation. 

And  Frank  said  '  yes '  —  as  they  left  the  conservatory 
together,  on  the  approach  of  the  other  friends,  who  had 
just  returned  from  a  long  jaunt  over  the  fields. 

Next  day,  Morris  formally  announced  to  his  visitors  this 
news,  and  extended  a  cordial  invitation  to  them  all  to 
come  to  Sunnyside  again,  on  the  occasion  of  the  wedding, 
in  the  fall  of  that  same  year. 

After  eight  days  of  delightful  experience  at  the  Blount 
farm,  the  New  York  friends  departed,  as  they  came ;  and 
a  week  subsequently  Fred,  Fannie,  and  the  two  babies 
left,  for  Boston. 

Their  joint  visit  to  Sunnyside  was  long  remembered  as 
one  of  the  happiest  social  events  in  their  lives ;  and  all 
the  friends  mutually  promised  to  return,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  wedding,  which  was  to  take  place  between  Morris 
and  Eunice  early  in  the  succeeding  fall. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

WHY  SHOULD  WE  NOT  HAVE   "  PANICS  "? 

WE  have  thus  far  given  the  brighter  side,  and  detailed 
honorable  modes  through  which  to  make  money  in  this 
thriving  busy  land  of  ours. 

The  incidents  described  in  the  foregoing  chapters  of  our 
present  story  occurred  at  and  during  the  years  which 
immediately  succeeded  the  memorable  panic  of  1837,  as 
we  have  shown.  The  country  afterwards  resumed  its 
wonted  prosperity,  for  a  period.  The  dark  cloud  of  adver 
sity  passed  away.  Trade  and  commerce  revived.  And 
labor  received  its  remunerative  reward,  once  more  — 
for  a  term.  But  there  is  another  side  to  the  picture  ;  for 
"  history  repeats  itself  "  alike  in  this  as  in  other  respects. 

Twenty  years  afterwards,  the  monetary  crash  of  1857 
came  ;  and  thousands  of  business-men,  master-mechanics, 
bankers,  merchants,  and  brokers  live  to-day  —  not  yet 
recovered  in  their  financial  condition  from  the  terrible 
effects  of  that  periodical  visitation. 

Then  succeeded  the  money  wreck  in  1861,  and  following 
this  we  had  the  fratricidal  rebellion  —  which  tore  the 
nation  asunder,  and  swallowed  up  the  fortunes  and  the 

376 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  377 

lives  of  a  million  of  our  citizens,  ere  the  difficulties 
involved  and  the  horrors  this  wretched  imbroglio  entailed 
were  brought  to  a  climax  ! 

Half  a  dozen  years  later,  we  experienced  the  fearful 
panic  of  1873.  In  view  of  all  that  had  transpired  previ- 
oiHy  in  this  country,  and  noting  the  recorded  startling 
facts  embodied  in  this  chapter  —  which  are  patent  to  the 
American  nation,  and  which  may  be  verified,  almost  ten 
fold,  by  any  one  who  will  examine  the  files  of  our  daily 
city  journals  for  any  single  given  year  within  the  last 
decade  —  the  observer  of  events  is  led  to  ask  why  shouldn't 
we  have  "  panics  ?  " 

In  the  earlier  times  of  our  national  history,  it  was  not 
thus.  Things  were  then  called  by  their  right  names.  But 
nowadays,  as  a  New  England  poet  recently  has  put  it  — 

"  With  generous  curve,  we  draw  the  moral  line; 
Our  swindlers  are  permitted  to  "  resign  " ! 
Their  guilt  is  wrapped  in  deferential  names, 
And  twenty  sympathize  for  one  that  blames. 
Steal  but  enough,  the  world  is  unsevere,  — 
Tweed  is  a  statesman,  Fisk  a  financier; 
Invent  a  mine,  and  be  — the  Lord  knows  what  — 
Secure,  at  any  rate,  with  what  you've  got. 
The  public  servant  who  has  stolen  or  lied, 
If  called  on,  may  resign  with  honest  pride: 
As  unjust  favor  put  him  in,  why  doubt 
Disfavor  as  unjust  has  turned  him  out? 
Whitewashed,  he  quits  the  politician's  strife 
At  ease  in  mind,  with  pockets  filled -for  life." 


378  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN   GOLD. 

We  deem  this  topic  pertinent,  since  it  is  no  longer  ;i 
secret  among  the  people  of  this  country  that  corruption 
in  upper  society  (and  too  often  among  the  lowly)  is  gen 
eral.  The  public  records  show  that  legislative  bodies 
have  latterly  grown  venal,  in  more  than  one  of  the  States, 
and  that  even  in  the  national  councils  there  has  been  dis 
closed  a  modicum  of  taint,  in  recent  years. 

Lobbyists,  great  and  small  —  the  most  unprincipled, 
grasping,  worthless  and  unscrupulous  of  cormorants 
and  political  rascals  that  ever  disgraced  any  country  on 
earth  —  influence  or  control  public  legislation  largely, 
backed  and  fostered  as  they  are  or  have  been  by  moneyed 
men  (and  the  government  itself  in  some  instances)  in  all 
directions.  As  in  the  days  of  the  Roman  Republic,  so  in 
ours,  alas !  "  Judges  and  Senates  have  been  bought  for 
gold,"  and  the  former  have  not  infrequently  been  shown 
to  have  been  guilty  of  accepting  bribes  for  a  favorable 
ruling  or  decision  in  behalf  of  wealthy  rogues  who  have 
fallen  under  the  ban  of  the  law  —  in  instances  that  might 
be  veritably  enumerated. 

Capital  and  corporations  rule  the  "  wise  men  in  council " 
who  convene  to  make  laws  for  the  government  of  the  peo 
ple,  at  the  national  Capitol  and  in  various  of  OUT  common 
wealths.  Of  a  truth  has  it  been  latterly  demonstrated 
that  "  great  wealth  covers  infamy,  and  success  knows  no 
shame ; "  while  the  triumphant  scoundrel  assumes  an 
unblushing  front  high  above  the  head  of  his  neighbor 
who  chances  to  be  unfortunate  —  though  honest,  honora- 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  379 

ble,  and  virtuous.  Why,  tben,  shouldn't  we  have  an  occa 
sional  panic  ? 

Colossal  estates,  lucrative  offices,  and  remunerative  posi 
tions  have  been  derived  through  subtle  cunning  and  down 
right  knavery,  while  honors  were  obtained  but  rarely 
through  the  merit  of  the  wearers.  Corruption  in  high 
places  has  "  boiled  and  bubbled  till  it  o'errun  the  stew," 
and  bold-faced  bribery  has  purchased  the  active  support  of 
scores  and  hundreds  of  "  influential "  political  hucksters, 
at  paltry  figures,  where  the  universe  would  not  be  rich 
enough  to  buy  the  vote  of  a  poor  but  honest  man  !  Why 
shouldn't  there  occur  among  us  a  periodical  crisis  ? 

Public  opinion  is  too  unsound  at  the  core ;  and  there 
exists  little  sentiment  of  contempt  for  wealth  acquired  —  no 
matter  how,  so  that  it  be  got  possession  of  —  among  thou 
sands  of  the  leading  operators,  speculators,  and  commer 
cial  gamblers  frequently  classed  as  "  enterprising  business 
men,"  in  this  country.  There  is  no  need  of  mentioning 
names,  no  call  to  point  at  individuals,  in  this  sweeping 
assertion.  The  records  of  our  day  verify  all  this,  and  more, 
unfortunately.  Why  shouldn't  we  experience  a  crash, 
now  and  then  ? 

The  besetting  sin  of  our  age,  wrote  Sir  John  Herschel, 
"  is  the  temptation  to  squander  and  dilute,  in  a  thousand 
different  ways."  The  American  people  have  speculated 
and  gambled  in  stocks,  in  food,  in  clothing,  in  paper 
money,  in  every  thing.  They  have  "  squandered  "  their 
swiftly-acquired  riches  with  a  profligacy  and  shiftlessness 


380  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

unparalleled.  They  have  "  diluted  "  values  (merely  nomi 
nal  at  the  outset)  until  their  watered  "  fancies "  have 
lost  the  semblance  of  reality.  And  they  awake  from  the 
wretched  lull  of  security  into  which  they  have  deluded 
themselves,  to  find  only  ashes  in  their  palnTs,  and  to  realize 
that  all  "is  but  the  baseless  fabric  of  a  dream."  Why 
shouldn't  chaos  follow  upon  such  inexcusable  folly,  blun 
dering,  and  crime  ? 

It  is  an  expressive  proverb  of  the  Russians  which 
declares  that  "  misfortune  is  next  door  to  stupidity." 
And  yet  there  be  those  —  in  the  midst  of  such  crises  as 
have  thrice  within  the  last  five  and  thirty  years  been 
brought  about  in  the  United  States  through  the  reckless 
ness  and  positive  stupidity  of  our  people  — •  who  whine 
about  the  misfortune  of  these  results ;  all  unmindful  that 
Heaven  rarely  sends  such  calamities  upon  men  as  men 
bring  upon  themselves !  Why,  then,  shouldn't  we  some 
times  be  called  to  atone  for  our  remissness  ? 

The  leading  characters  whose  history  we  have  inter 
woven  in  the  thread  of  this  story  were  fortunately  not  of 
this  class.  The  wealth  accumulated  by  Blount,  and  Dow 
ner,  Meyers,  Ely  Hawes,  and  Morris  Deans  was  earned  by 
honest  industry  and  skilful  application  of  natural  talents 
to  well-timed  opportunities  which  they  availed  themselves 
of,  and  wrought  out  to  honorable  results. 

But  when  we  meet  with  such  disastrous  examples  of 
folly  and  recklessness  as  have  latterly  been  thrust  publicly 
into  notice  —  the  colossal  fiascos  of  a  Cooke,  a  Duncan  and 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  381 

ShermaD,  a  Jackson,  a  Ralston,  a  Collie,  a  Clewes,  a  Fisk, 
a  Shepard,  a  Tweed,  and  a  hundred  others  that  might  be 
cited  ;  when  we  learn  through  the  public  press  day  after 
day  of  the  infamous  frauds,  defalcations,  wholesale  robber 
ies  and  disgraceful  thieveries  which  occur  —  and  through 
which  dishonorable  means  men  grow  rich,  but  go  unwhipt 
of  justice  for  the  crimes  thus  committed  —  we  deem  it  but 
just  to  point  at  these  offenders,  by  way  of  comparison,  at 
least ;  though  we  are  constrained  to  exclaim,  while  such 
scandalous  cases  of  wrong-doing  multiply  and  increase  in 
magnitude  —  why  should  we  not  look  for  panics  in  our 
midst ! 

Let  us  glance  at  a  few  instances  that  are  notorious, 
which  have  been  bared  to  view  within  the  last  few  years 
among  us  —  and  from  which  a  lesson  may  be  learned,  if  we 
but  ponder  well  the  fatal  moral  and  social  results  that 
attend  such  folly  and  iniquity. 

A  single  Wall  Street  stock  operator  and  Railway  manip 
ulator  is  discovered  to  have  appropriated  to  his  own  private 
use  over  seven  millions  of  corporation  assets,  out  of  property 
belonging  to  a  thousand  individuals,  rightfully,  who  will 
never  become  possessed  of  a  dollar  of  this  "  missing  " 
fund !  Five  millions  more  go  "  where  the  woodbine 
twineth,"  through  the  sharp  practices  of  another  noted 
speculator  and  law-scouting  intriguer.  Thrice  both  these 
huge  sums  are  gobbled  up  by  another  ring  of  city-corpo 
ration  robbers,  who  have  squandered  other  millions  that 
cannot  be  reached,  meantime.  And,  when  the  crisis 


382  A.    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

comes,  at  last,  in  one  single  day  following  closely  upon  the 
discovery  of  these  deficits  —  the  "  shrinkage  "  in  nominal 
values  of  stocks  and  fancy  securities  in  Wall  Street  that 
have  been  bandied  about  from  Peter  to  Paul,  or  from 
James  and  Daniel  among  the  jay-hawks  of  the  speculating 
ring  on  'change,  is  found  to  exceed  a  hundred  millions 
more !  Why,  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  reasonable, 
shouldn't  we  come  to  grief,  amidst  bold  cheatery  such  as 
this  ? 

-  As  these  pages  are  being  closed,  the  author  takes  up  his 
evening  daily  to  encounter  the  details  of  a  "  Grand  raid  on 
Counterfeiters."  And  he  reads  the  particulars  of  the 
greatest  crusade  against  this  fraternity,  on  public  record. 
Upwards  of  seventy  American  outlaws  and  their  confeder 
ates  in  the  manufacture  and  distribution  of  counterfeit 
National  notes  and  U.  S.  currency  in  North  Carolina  are 
arrested.  These  counterfeits  —  to  the  amount  of  millions — 
have  been  circulated  for  genuine  all  over  that  State  and  in 
Tennessee,  at  wholesale,  by  jobbers  and  dealers  —  like  any 
marketable  commodity !  This  counterfeiting  ring  proves 
to  be  enormous,  and  their  false  money-transactions  have 
been  immense  —  while  the  criminals  secured  by  the  U.  S. 
authorities  actually  include  men  in  every  station  in  life ; 
lawyers,  doctors,  justices  of  the  peace,  United  States 
Deputy  Marshals,  clerks  of  courts,  and  numerous  mer 
chants.  Sufficient  evidence  as  to  the  guilt  of  the  parties 
having  been  obtained  to  justify  action  on  the  part  of  the 
Government  officers,  warrants  for  the  arrest  of  ninety  were 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  383 

issued  by  the  United  States  District  Attorneys  in  East 
Tennessee  and  West  North  Carolina,  and  seventy-four 
were  sent  to  prison.  Why  shouldn't  we  hear  of  panics? 

During  a  period  of  two  years  preceding  this  crisis  of 
'73,  which  at  length  overwhelmed  the  people  everywhere 
as  we  have  indicated,  defalcations,  robberies,  money-losses, 
United  States  Revenue  defaulting,  Customs  defrauding, 
stock  gambling,  over-importing,  extravagance  in  living, 
etc.  without  limit  among  the  rich  and  powerful  occurred ; 
and  the  contingent  evils  attendant  upon  the  flush  times  of 
this  period,  to  wit,  counterfeiting,  forgery,  embezzlement, 
thievery,  cheating,  and  plundering  among  the  poor  and 
powerless,  in  less  degree  —  marked  that  time  as  an  era  of 
nominal  prosperity.  Yet  it  was  one  that  covered  an  ex 
tent  and  aggregate  of  crime  hitherto  altogether  unprece 
dented  in  American  annals. 

Within  a  single  twelvemonth,  a  noted  U.  S.  Revenue 
officer  in  New  York  State  (who  subsequently  found  his 
way  to  Sing  Sing)  proved  a  defaulter  to  the  Government 
to  the  tune  of  over  two  millions  of  dollars.  Another,  in 
this  same  service,  in  Missouri,  made  way  with  seven  hun 
dred  thousand  dollars  of  U.  S.  funds,  in  a  few  months.  A 
third,  in  Pennsylvania,  defrauded  Uncle  Sam  out  of  up 
wards  of  a  million.  A  fourth,  in  Indiana,  couldn't  (or 
wouldn't)  show  where  six  hundred  thousand  dollars  of 
Treasury  funds  had  gone,  after  he  had  collected  it.  A 
fifth,  in  New  York  State,  found  himself  (so  he  stated  upon 
resigning)  minus  three-quarters  of  a  million.  A  sixth  in 


384  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

a  New  England  State,  did  not  account  for  half  a  million 
that  belonged  rightfully  to  the  Internal  Revenue  Bureau. 
A  seventh,  in  New  Jersey,  couldn't  produce  four  hundred 
and  sixty  thousand  dollars  that  his  vouchers  to  the  people 
showed  he  had  gathered,  when  he  was  suddenly  called 
upon  to  pay  up.  Three  others,  all  in  this  Department  of 
the  Government  service  —  in  Southern  States  —  bagged, 
together,  or  squandered  in  stocks,  speculations,  and  riotous 
living  in  that  year,  upwards  of  another  million  and  a  half. 
In  New  Orleans,  a  huge  loss  was  similarly  sustained  by  the 
Administration.  In  Georgia,  in  the  Carolinas,  and  in 
Virginia,  other  enormous  sums  were,  during  this  brief 
period,  in  the  same  villanous  and  reprehensible  manner 
purloined  by  great  thieves,  from  the  rightful  owners  of  the 
public  funds.  These  dozen  instances  cited  occurred  in  a 
single  year,  in  but  one  Department ;  and  reached,  in  all, 
the  enormous  sum  of  more  than  thirteen  millions  of  dol 
lars,  that  were  stolen  outright  from  the  Government,  and 
which  "went  up  in  a  balloon,"  or  elsewhere  —  never  to 
be  heard  from  again  by  those  who  had  been  thus  merci 
lessly  robbed ! 

These  faithless  public  servants,  in  every  instance,  had 
indulged  themselves  in  a  reckless  and  luxurious  style  of 
living,  most  of  them  had  sunk  hundreds  of  thousands  in 
stock  and  gold  gambling,  and  all  of  them  had  accumulated 
wealth  in  a  brief  space  of  time,  by  taking  these  vast  sums 
directly  from  the  working  and  producing  classes  in  the 
shape  of  revenue  taxes,  for  which  they  never  accounted  to 


HOW   TO   MAKE   IT.  385 

Government,  and  for  the  squandering  of  which  wholesale 
amounts  their  bondsmen  were  entirely  insufficient  to  make 
up  a  tithe  of  the  total  loss.  Why  shouldn't  we  have  a 
panic  ? 

The  whiskey-rings  in  the  West,  the  corporation  rings  in 
New  York  and  Washington,  the  tobacco  and  spirits  rings 
in  Virginia,  the  railway  rings  in  almost  every  northern 
State,  the  political  and  municipal  rings  all  over  the  Union, 
the  contemptible  yet  powerful  lobby  rings,  everywhere, 
the  Custom  House  and  Post  Office  rings  from  Maine  to 
California  and  Oregon,  the  Credit-Mobilier  ring  in  Con 
gress,  the  stock-gambling  rings  in  the  great  money  centres, 
the  cereal  and  Indian  rings  —  with  their  outer  and  inner 
rings,  combining  to  overreach  the  Government  and  to 
wring  from  the  pockets  of  the  people  countless  thousands 
or  millions  of  hardly-earned  dollars,  to  be  lavished  and 
frittered  away  in  riotous  and  unrighteous  living- — is  but 
another  single  phase  in  the  wholesale  scheme  of  these 
reckless  adventurers  to  rob  the  public,  and  aid  in  compass 
ing  the  ruin  which  prompts  the  query  "  why  shouldn't  we 
under  such  circumstances  look  for  disaster,  chaos  and 
destruction  ?  " 

Within  this  single  year  just  now  mentioned,  public 
defalcation  ran  fearfully  riot,  also.  The  trusted  officers  of 
city  governments,  of  Banks,  of  Savings  Institutions,  of 
Treasuries,  of  Insurance  Companies,  of  Banking-houses, 
of  Railways,  of  Manufacturing  Corporations,  in  Custom 
Houses,  U.  S.  Sub-treasuries,  Post  Offices,  and  other 


386        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

public  or  private  money-institutions,  plunged  into  specula 
tion  wildly  and  furiously  —  involving  their  sureties  in 
utter  losses  of  millions,  and  robbing  their  employers  their 
depositors  or  the  Government  of  many  millions  in  excess 
of  all  their  bondsmen  were  able  to  meet. 

In  these  latter  named  cases,  the  almost  universal  cause 
of  the  heavy  losses  was  frankly  stated  by  the  detected 
culprits  to  be  that  they  had  dabbled  in  fancy  stocks,  or 
other  baseless  speculations,  and  had  been  overslaughed  by 
the  knowing  ones.  They  had  lived  too  fast  and  gone  too 
far  to  retreat,  and  had  added  to  their  offence  the  crime 
of  wholesale  robbery  of  widows,  orphans,  and  other  poor 
men  and  women,  who  were  (in  the  end)  the  unlucky  vic 
tims  of  their  excesses  and  their  folly  !  Why  shouldn't  we 
hear  the  thunder,  and  see  the  lightning,  amidst  such  a 
tempest  as  this  ? 

Many  of  these  offenders  fall  —  at  last.  If  they  but 
fell  upon  each  other  the  result  would,  measurably,  pass  by 
unheeded.  But  the  catastrophe  harms  or  crushes  not 
these  men  alone,  unluckily.  And  at  the  worst  in  their 
cases,  as  a  rule  it  affects  them  but  indifferently.  The 
hard-working,  honest,  frugal,  deserving  mechanic,  laborer, 
widow,  needle- woman,  "  freedman,"  clerk,  or  orphan  — 
these,  and  such  as  these,  who  have  innocently  and  igno- 
rantly  intrusted  these  scoundrels  with  their  little  savings  — 
the  poor  and  middling  classes  in  society,  who  labor  from 
sunrise  to  sunset  for  their  own  sustenance  and  the  main 
tenance  of  those  dependent  upon  them,  directly  or  in- 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  387 

directly  —  they  are  the  mass  of  the  ultimate  sufferers, 
through  this  monstrous  wrong  ;  and,  in  the  main,  they  are 
the  unlucky  victims  of  this  unsoundness  in  the  upper 
strata  of  business  circles.  Millions  of  dollars  have  thus 
been  disposed  of  wrongfully,  in  addition  to  other  quoted 
abuses,  and  thousands  of  fresh  victims  have  thus  been 
added  to  the  long  procession  of  sufferers.  Why  shouldn't 
we  have  crises,  and  panics,  and  woe,  and  terror,  and 
calamity  —  in  view  of  these  terrible  evils  in  our  midst ! 

Once  in  a  score  or  so  of  years  —  as  time  flits  by  —  such 
a  notable  "  crisis  "  in  monetary  affairs  occurs  in  this  coun 
try,  as  witness  the  memorable  panics  of  1837,  of  '57,  and 
this  last  great  crash  in  commercial  circles,  in  1873. 

These  untoward  events,  as  conceded  by  all,  mainly 
result  from  the  recklessness  in  speculation  among  a  portion 
of  the  community  who  run  riot  in  their  baseless  schemes 
to  accumulate  riches  —  without  regard  to  the  modes 
adopted  by  them  to  "  make  money  ;  "  and  with  less  heed 
to  the  disastrous  effects  so  certain  to  follow  upon  their 
selfish  and  inconsiderate  course. 

This  disaster  reaches  not  only  these  men  'and  their 
families,  but  the  fearful  influences  sooner  or  later  over 
whelm  the  middle  classes  in  society,  and  inevitably  crush 
out  the  better  hopes  and  prospects  of  myriads  of  hard- 
toiling  poor  men  and  women,  everywhere. 

This  aggregation  of  crime  and  infamous  wrong,  operat 
ing  directly  in  its  disastrous  effects  upon  the  large  portion 
of  our  people  who  from  the  very  nature  of  things  are 


A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

unable,  under  existing  circumstances,  to  defend  or  dis 
entangle  themselves  from  its  unrighteous  and  crushing 
consequences,  may  well  serve  to  occasion  alarm  in  the 
community. 

Philanthropists,  theorists,  politicians,  or  financiers  all 
have  their  proposed  antidote  for  this  fearful  bane.  But  no 
two  men  are  found  to  agree  upon  the  rightful  mode  that 
may  correct  the  glaring  evil,  while  the  rich  and  the  poor 
alike  unite  in  their  mournful  denunciations  of  the  "  hard 
times"  which  have  come  upon  us,  and  the  prediction  is 
freely  echoed  from  eveiy  quarter  that  "  the  times  will  be 
harder  still,  before  they  are  easier,"  and  that  the  end  is 
not  yet  reached ! 

In  the  brief  enumeration  of  certain  phases  of  crimi 
nality  just  now  rehearsed,  we  have  not  alluded  to  other 
prominent  acts  of  heinous  wrong  that,  in  their  way,  have 
aided  to  swell  this  bulk  of  infamy  in  our  midst  to  enor 
mous  proportions,  in  later  years  ;  the  commission  of  which 
offences  adds  fearful  emphasis  to  the  sum  of  human 
iniquity  that  is  to-day  rife  in  American  circles,  and  which 
largely  tends  to  account  for  the  disastrous  condition  of 
things  now  current  among  us. 

While  in  commercial  circles,  in  governmental  offices,  in 
money-trust  institutions,  and  in  ring-speculations  have 
been  wrought  the  greater  share  of  the  evil  which  oppresses 
the  nation  so  onerously  at  the  present  hour  —  the  fact 
stares  us  in  the  face,  alas !  that  among  the  foremost  reli 
gious  teachers  of  the  land  a  laxity  in  morals  exists  that  is 
painful  verily  to  contemplate. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  389 

The  records  of  the  Courts  within  the  last  year  or  two 
exhibit  frightful  evidence  in  support  of  this  assertion.  In 
New  York,  in  New  Jersey,  in  the  West,  and  at  the  South, 
prominent  clergymen  of  various  religious  denominations 
have  been  indicted  and  tried  upon  charges  of  having 
committed  the  grossest  immoralities  and  crime.  In  -two 
or  three  instances,  leading  pastors,  who  for  years  had 
stood  in  the  fore  front  among  our  most  revered  American 
citizens,  and  whose  brilliant  and  exemplary  careers  previ 
ously  had  become  famous  throughout  the  world,  have  been 
arraigned  and  tried  upon  charges  of  the  basest  character 
—  the  evidence  publicly  adduced  in  confirmation  of  which 
allegations  has  resulted  in  seriously  shaking  the  faith  of 
tens  of  thousands  in  the  constancy  and  truthfulness  of 
even  that  long  cherished  and  respected  fraternity,  whose 
reputation  should  indeed  be  above  suspicion,  and  whose 
lives  should  be  as  spotless  as  new-fallen  snow  ! 

Considering  all  these  things,  and  glancing  at  the  authen 
tic  record  of  these  examples  of  monstrous  error  and  vice 
among  the  rich,  the  powerful,  and  the  talented  in  the  land 
— whose  extravagance,  wastefulness,  excesses,  and  wilful 
criminality  have  tended  chiefly  to  bring  the  country  to  its 
present  calamitous  condition  of  universal  depression  — 
why,  pray,  should  we  not  expect  such  a  panic  as  that  of 
to-day?  and  wherefore,  under  such  enormity  of  abuses 
and  corruption,  should  we  not  count  upon  subsequent  dis 
aster,  bankruptcy,  and  ruin  ? 

It  proves  but  a  question  of  time.     Speculation,  pecula- 


390        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

tion,  and  extravagance  are  thus  for  a  while  rampant  in  the 
great  money  centres.  The  nominally  rich  find  themselves 
suddenly  compelled  to  succumb  —  noted  business  firms 
suspend  —  moneyed  men  "fail"  —  merchants  go  under  — 
manufacturers  curtail  their  production  —  operatives  are 
thrown  out  of  employment  —  mechanics  and  laborers  find 
their  occupations  gone  —  retailers  lose  their  current  trade 
—  everybody  becomes  alarmed  —  the  banks  cease  to 
afford  ordinary  monetary  facilities  —  and  chaos  ensues. 

It  is  the  old  story,  retold.  Yet  the  terrible  effects  are 
only  realized,  to  the  bitter  full,  by  that  large  proportion 
of  the  American  people  who  are  compelled  by  the  sweat 
of  their  brows  and  the  daily  labor  of  their  hands  to  earn 
bread  for  themselves  and  those  dependent  upon  them. 

The  narrative  we  have  now  penned  is  a  record  of  sim 
ple  unvarnished  fact.  Its  details  occurred  as  we  have 
herein  set  them  down.  How  many  thousand  similar  his 
tories  could  be  written  from  real  life,  having  their  origin 
in  the  great  cities  of  this  highly  favored  land,  and  how 
many  thousand  such  life-records  could  be  adduced  from 
among  those  who  dwell  beyond  the  cares  and  turmoil  and 
bustle  of  the  busier  haunts  ? 

No  one  of  the  creditable  representative  men  whose 
history  we  have  in  previous  chapters  chronicled  in  this 
volume,  was  a  politician,  and  neither  of  these  successful 
persons  ever  chanced  to  be  an  office-holder  under  the 
Government.  In  the  instances  of  Mr.  Tweeclle  and  Mose 
Topley,  we  have  illustrations  of  the  avaricious  and  un- 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  391 

principled  place-holder  —  and  their  fate  has  been  recorded. 
Both  amassed  liberal  fortunes  —  but  with  their  ill-gotten 
gains  they  earned  an  infamous  name,  and  "  through  the 
land  each  bears  for  life  a  stigma  from  the  brand." 

With  this  array  of  veritably  existing  wrong  before  us  — 
thus  briefly  touched  upon,  only  —  another  earnest  query 
presents  itself,  as  the  unfortunate  victims  peruse  these 
fearful  accounts  :  "  where  is  the  remedy  for  this  terrible 
state  of  things?  " 

To  which  we  answer  it  remains  with  ourselves  to  correct 
these  monstrous  evils.  We  are  all  too  prone  to  be  deceived 
by  appearances,  and  to  venture  upon  speculations  that 
have  no  real  foundation.  We  credulously  confide  in 
wrong,  forgetting  that  "  as  much  of  evil,  so  much  of  loss," 
is  the  real  formula  of  human  history.  We  make  examples, 
and  every  man  is  bound  to  tolerate  the  act  which  he 
indulges  in,  himself.  No  large  amount  of  good  or  evil  is 
ever  done  that  does  not  reproduce  its  like. 

The  everlasting  passion  of  Americans  to  acquire  riches 
largely,  that  they  may  support  grand  show,  and  indulge  in 
shameless  extravagance,  is  a  fruitful  cause  for  the  corrup 
tion  that  exists  among  us.  Yet  such  wanton  prodigality 
is  indeed  the  vice  of  but  the  weakest  natures.  It  is  a 
good  law  of  fate,  however,  that  every  evil  wears  itself  out, 
in  time.  "  The  greatest  flood  has  its  quickest  ebb ;  the 
sorest  tempest  the  most  sudden  calm  ;  the  hottest  love  the 
coldest  end."  Why  then  should  we  not  hope  that  these 
wildest  of  follies  among  our  people,  may  through  the"  ad- 


392  A   HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

versities  we  have  more  recently  suffered,  find  their  effect 
ual  quietus  ? 

At  all  events,  every  man  has  it  in  his  power  to  avoid 
encouraging  this  wilful  waste  in  the  community,  and  every 
individual  —  be  he  poor  or  rich  —  is  able  to  assist  in 
reforming  this  unhealthy  state  of  affairs  in  society,  if  so 
inclined. 

Preaching  is  of  very  good  avail,  but  practice  is  far  better. 
And  so,  with  the  brief  record  contained  in  this  chapter  — 
though  not  one-half  the  actual  enormities  are  recapitu 
lated  —  we  will  not  halt  to  sermonize,  but  prefer  to  leave 
the  reader  to  digest  these  "  unvarnished  truths,"  as  they 
stand.  We  could  add  hundreds  of  other  astounding  in 
stances  of  similar  criminal  remissness  and  corruption  to 
this  record  —  but  these  will  suffice  to  show  the  sad  reverse 
of  the  life-picture  aimed  to  be  drawn  in  these  pages. 

"  Clear  and  round  dealing"  says  Lord  Bacon,  "is  the 
honor  of  man's  nature.  A  mixture  of  falsity  is  like  alloy 
in  coin  of  gold  or  silver.  —  It  may  make  the  metal  work 
better,  but  it  debaseth  it." 

And  commending  this  course  to  the  reader,  we  pass 
to  the  conclusion  of  our  story,  without  apology  for  what 
may  possibly  appear  to  some  like  a  digression,  just  here; 
although,  in  our  own  opinion,  the  monstrous  facts  so  briefly 
stated  may  well  serve  lor  notes  of  warning,  as  well  as 
in  explanation  of  a  main  cause  for  the  existence  of  the 
k;  hard  times  "  which  the  American  people  are  struggling 
with,  to-day ;  and  the  real  nature  of  which  is  so  indiffer 
ently  comprehended  by  the  masses  in  our  community. 


CHAPTER  XXVm. 

A    HUNDRED   THOUSAND   DOLLARS  IN   GOLD. 

WE  hjive  now  demonstrated  how  half  a  dozen  represen 
tative  young  men  within  our  acquaintance,  who  began  the 
world  with  nothing,  succeeded  in  honorably  accumulating 
the  generous  sum  that  constitutes  the  title  to  our  present 
volume. 

The  agreeable  result  was  not  accomplished  through  ill- 
advised  speculation,  through  "luck,"  or  by  chance.  This 
consummation,  so  devoutly  to  be  wished  by  all  enterprising 
men,  was  effected  in  our  quoted  cases  and  in  every  in 
stance  that  we  have  detailed  in  these  pages,  through 
honest  toil,  the  true  appreciation  of  brain-work,  and  by 
the  rightful  use  of  the  talents  which  God  gives  to  most 
persons,  in  greater  or  less  degree  —  everywhere  —  to-day, 
as  in  any  previous  period  of  our  history  as  a  people. 

None  but  the  croakers  or  do-nothings  among  us  will 
argue  that  the  characters  we  have  portrayed  are  imagina 
tive  —  or,  if  rea  that  these  individuals  had  rare  oppor 
tunities  to  garner  wealth,  which  do  not  fall  to  the  lot  of 
active  men  generally.  All  this  is  fallacy. 


394        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

The  same  "  chances  "  present  themselves  daily  to  the 
youth  of  this  country,  in  any  direction.  All  that  is  needed 
to  be  done,  is,  to  grasp  these  opportunities  seasonably,  and 
wisely  turn  them  to  good  account. 

No  purpose  in  life  can  be  attained  without  such  applica 
tion,  and  such  resolve.  The  indolent,  listless,  waiting-on- 
Providence  plan  is  of  no  avail.  "  Luck"  is  a  myth.  The 
golden  opportunity  may  be  temporarily  concealed,  or  it 
may  lie  for  a  time  aside  beyond  our  reach,  or  observation. 
But  it  must  be  turned  up,  or  arrived  at  through  our  own 
exertions,  and  availed  of  through  our  individual  search. 

It  may  be  that  the  identical  trades  and  professions  which 
our  several  heroes  herein  followed  to  brilliant  success, 
would  not  always  furnish  the  means  to  precisely  such  an 
end,  as  in  the  cases  quoted. 

But  the  true  principle  involved,  remains  —  nevertheless. 
And  that  principle  we  have  endeavored  plainly  to  lay 
before  the  reader,  which  we  have  faithfully  illustrated  in 
the  cases  of  Fred  Fordham,  Morris  Deans,  Frank  Meyers, 
Eli  Hawes,  Reuben  Downer,  Farmer  Blount,  David  the 
Drover,  &c. 

Each  of  these  men  accumulated  their  handsome  for 
tunes,  as  we  happen  to  know,  actually  in  the  manner  as 
set  forth  in  these  pages.  Though  the  names  of  our  chosen 
characters  may  not  be  familiar  to  the  general  reader,  we 
have  none  of  us  to  look  beyond  the  limits  of  the  states  of 
New  York,  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  to  learn 
to  whom  most  of  these  histories  refer. 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  397 

The  parties  we  have  now  described  are  some  of  them 
still  living  —  and  one  or  two  are  at  this  hour  in  the  posses 
sion  of  almost  a  fabulous  amount  of  solid  wealth  —  earned 
and  saved  in  the  manner  we  have  indicated  in  the  previous 
chapters 

Therefore  we  contend  that  it  can  be  done  again  —  with 
the  right  means,  and  the  rightful  appliance  of  those  means. 
And,  in  a  single  line  we  say  then,  reader,  if  you  wish  to 
make  your  fortune,  proceed  as  these  men  did  :  go  thou,  and 
do  likewise. 

Earn  it,  make  it,  save  it,  enjoy  it  —  and  be  happy  with 
it ;  as  you  may  do,  if  wise,  prudent  and  duteous. 

Five  months  after  the  visit  to  Brand ville  —  to  wit,  in 
the  pleasant  opening  of  brown  October  —  arrangements 
were  actively  entered  upon  for  a  grand  wedding-fete  at 
Sunnyside,  the  beautiful  home  of  Farmer  Blount. 

The  young  friends  had  corresponded  frequently  in  the 
interim  that  passed  between  their  late  temporary  sojourn 
at  the  farm  and  the  time  fixed  upon  for  the  union  of 
Morris  and  Eunice  ;  and  the  pleasantest  of  anticipations 
were  indulged  in  by  all  the  parties,  in  view  of  this  now 
early  forthcoming  event. 

It  chanced,  also,  that  David  Morehead,  the  fortunate 
drover,  came  down  two  days  preceding  the  wedding.  He 
brought  with  him  another  pair  of  fine  Morgan  colts  he 
had  raised,  which  he  had  for  sale.  When  he  called  upon 
Morris,  he  now  found  his  former  patron  busy  in  prepara 
tions  for  the  happy  event  of  the  morrow. 


398        A  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  IN  GOLD. 

Upon  that  next  morning,  the  guests  invited  from  abroad 
had  all  reached  Brandville. 

Meyers,  and  Hawes,  and  Downer  had  come  up  from 
New  York.  Fred  Fordham  and  his  good  wife  Fannie 
arrived,  duly.  And  now  the  early  young  companions  were 
together,  once  more,  for  a  few  days ;  which  proved  the 
last  meeting  of  all  these  friends,  on  earth. 

Good  old  farmer  Blount  and  his  wife  were  very  jubilant, 
on  this  interesting  occasion.  They  had  never  talked  about 
this  probable  event  much,  except  strictly  between  them 
selves.  But  their  affection  for  Morris  Deans  was  un 
bounded,  and  after  his  first  year's  sojourn  with  them,  they 
had  begun  to  indulge  the  hope  that  Morris  would  find 
their  adopted  daughter  so  agreeable  a  companion  that  one 
day  he  would  choose  her  for  his  wife. 

The  end  was  now  approaching,  in  accordance  with  their 
earnest  wishes,  and  they  felt  confident  that  the  future 
happiness  of  Eunice  could  not  be  intrusted  to  the  keeping 
of  a  better  husband. 

Every  thing  was  accordingly  done  to  render  the  affair 
an  agreeable  one.  The  old  mansion  had  been  nicely  remo 
delled,  inside,  during  the  prior  two  or  three  months,  and 
the  house  was  newly  furnished  throughout,  in  anticipation 
of  the  marriage  of  Blount's  only  "  daughter"  to  the  former 
city  broker's  clerk. 

On  their  wedding-day,  Frank  Meyers  '  stood  up  '  with 
Morris,  and  a  beautiful  young  lady  from  the  village  — 
an  intimate  personal  friend  of  Eunice  —  officiated  as 
bridesmaid. 


HOW   TO   MAKE    IT.  399 

Valuable  marriage-gifts  were  duly  forwarded  by  all 
the  friends  of  Morris  to  his  charming  young  bride,  and 
the  details  passed  off  most  satisfactorily  to  all  interested  in 
this  happy  event. 

The  visitors  returned  to  New  York  and  Boston,  Morris 
and  Eunice  —  now  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  Deans  —  departed 
for  the  White  Mountains  and  Niagara  the  same  evening, 
and  the  4  old  folks  at  home '  were  happy. 

Old  Blount  and  his  good  dame  were  ripening  in  years, 
but  the  honorable  course  the  wealthy  farmer  had  steadily 
pursued  in  life  he  now  contemplated  with  placid  satisfac 
tion  ;  for  he  had  aimed,  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  to  per 
form  what  he  conscientiously  deemed  to  be  his  whole  duty 
towards  his  kindred  and  his  fellow  men.  And  in  his  quiet 
old  age,  he  fully  realized  the  happy  sentiments  embodied 
in  the  popular  song  of  "  the  yeoman  king." 

The  farmer  sat  in  his  old  arm-chair, 

Rosy  and  fair, 

Contented  there. 

"Kate,  I  declare," 
He  said  to  his  wife,  who  was  knitting  near, 

"  We  need  not  fear 

The  hard  times  here, 
Though  the  leaf  of  life  is  yellow  and  sear. 

"  I  am  the  king,  and  you  are  the  queen, 
Of  this  fair  scene,  — 
These  fields  of  green, 
And  gold  between ; 


4:00  A   HUNDRED   THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

These  cattle  grazing  upon  the  hill, 

Taking  their  fill ; 

And  sheep  so  still, 
Like  many  held  by  a  single  will. 

"  These  barnyard  fowls  are  our  subjects  all : 

They  heed  the  call, 

And,  like  a  squall, 

On  fast  wings  fall, 
Whenever  we  scatter  for  them  the  grain. 

'Tis  not  in  vain 

We  live  and  reign 
In  this  our  happy  and  calm  domain. 

"  And  whether  the  day  be  dim  or  fine, 

In  rain  and  shine, 

These  lands  of  mine, 

These  fields  of  thine, 
In  cloudy  shade  and  in  sunny  glow, 

Will  overflow 

With  crops  that  grow, 
When  gold  is  high  and  when  it  is  low. 

"  Unvexed  with  shifting  of  stocks  and  shares, 

And  bulls  and  bears, 

Stripes  and  cares, 

And  the  affairs 
Of  speculation  in  mart  and  street, 

In  this  retreat 

Sweet  peace  can  meet 
With  plenty  on  her  rural  beat." 

Two  years  from  that  day,  Frank  Meyers  led  to  the  altar 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  401 

a  blooming  girl  from  New  York  city,  with  whom  he 
became  acquainted  soon  after  the  wedding  of  Eunice  and 
Morris.  And  they  went  to  Boston  to  reside,  subsequently. 

Reuben  Downer  wedded  a  nice  young  lady  from  among 
his  former  Connecticut  acquaintance  —  and  has  since 
resided  in  New  York  ;  where  he  has  flourished  wondrously 
with  his  pet  enterprise,  the  weekly  Leader. 

Ely  Hawes  got  married  last,  and  not  until  he  had  more 
than  realized  his  first  hoped-for  fortune.  His  Safe-lock 
proved  a  grand  conception,  and  in  the  end  turned  out  "  a 
gold  mine  "  indeed,  in  his  experience. 

Fred  Fordham  went  along  steadily  from  the  time  he 
fairly  began  to  make  money,  in  the  house  he  was  so  long 
connected  with  as  book-keeper,  and  in  which  he  eventu 
ally  became  a  partner. 

His  family  was  increased  by  the  addition  of  another  boy 
—  latterly.  But  his  circumstances  were  now  largely  im 
proved,  and  he  accepted  this  "  fresh  gift  from  Heaven  " 
gratefully. 

Fannie  Fordham's  third  infant  lay  asleep,  snugly  en 
sconced  in  its  comfortably  pillowed  cradle.  The  former 
"  babj7,"  (her  second  boy,)  was  a  little  jealous  of  this 
latest  arrival.  Young  Fred  dropped  his  toy,  and 
approached  the  side  of  the  basket  where  the  new  baby  lay, 
with  an  anxious  expression  —  and  then  inquired  "  wot  is 
it,  mamma  ?  " 

"  That's  your  dear  little  new  brother,  Fred/'  said  Fan 
nie,  smilingly. 


402  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

"  Wot  'ee  come  'ere  for,  mamma  ?  " 

"  To  keep  you  company,  and  grow  up  and  play  with 
you,  deary." 

Fred  didn't  seem  to  see  it  in  this  light,  exactly.  He 
put  his  finger  into  his  mouth,  stood  eying  the  youngster  a 
moment,  apprehensively,  and  then  turned  away. 

Little  Fred's  nose  was  out  of  joint,  plainly.  He  had 
been  "  the  baby "  for  three  years.  But  he  had  been 
superseded,  now ! 

Of  these  little  ones,  and  other  of  the  '  babies '  referred 
to  in  these  pages,  we  shall  write  hereafter  —  in  a  compan 
ion  volume  to  our  present  book.  For  the  time  being  we 
leave  them  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  happy  innocence  and 
infancy. 

David  Morehead  was  a  guest  at  Morris'  wedding,  and 
succeeded  in  disposing  of  his  fine  Morgan  horses  and  Dur 
ham  cattle  for  years  afterwards,  upon  the  Grimes  farm ; 
where  he  is  now  a  hale  hearty  brave  old  man  —  worth  a 
handsome  fortune  —  which  he  earned  with  his  own  hands 
and  brains. 

And  Deacon  Rounds  grew  richer,  as  the  years  went  by, 
and  more  parsimonious  than  ever,  as  time  passed,  after 
David  left  him.  Howard  Blount  grew  old,  but  he  was 
contented,  frugal,  and  scrupulously  honest,  to  the  last. 

The  conscientious  farmer  approached  his  grave,  at 
length,  peacefully  and  content.  He  had  aimed  to  the  best 
of  his  ability  through  life  to  pursue  a  line  of  conduct  that 
did  him  honor  among:  his  fellows  —  and  death  had  no  ter- 


HOW   TO    MAKE   IT.  403 

rors  for  him.  In  his  last  moments,  he  spoke  kindly  and 
affectionately  to  the  young  man  Deans,  who  had  served 
him  so  faithfully,  and  who  was  now  united  in  marriage  to 
his  adopted  daughter,  Eunice. 

'•  My  days  on  earth  have  nearly  reached  their  end, 
Morris,"  he  said.  "  I  have  striven  in  a  long  life  to  do 
unto  others  as  I  would  have  them  do  unto  me.  This 
method,  be  assured,  fulfils  the  great  injunctions  of  the 
decalogue,  as  well  as  the  just  requirements  of  the  '  golden 
rule  ; '  and  this  course  continuously  followed  out  in  all 
the  ramifications  of  our  lives,  is  the  right  way  to  render 
our  own  existence  happy,  and  at  its  close  to  suggest  no 
heart-burnings  or  regrets  for  remissness  in  the  past. 

"  The  man  who  appreciates  this  world,  as  it  is,  is  wiser 
than  he  who  is  prone  to  condemn,  through  not  understand 
ing  it.  To  study  the  world,  is  far  better  than  to  shun  it. 
To  use  the  world,  fairly,  is  always  nobler  than  to  abuse 
it.  Our  best  effort  to  render  the  world  better,  and  those 
around  us  happier  and  lovelier,  is  a  wise  and  duteous  aim 
in  man  or  woman.  And  the  chief  reason  why  the  world 
is  not  reformed  and  better  improved  is,  because  each  of  us 
is  prone  to  leave  this  work  to  others  to  commence  upon, 
forgetful  of  his  own  prime  duty  to  make  such  beginning 
himself. 

"You  have  endeared  yourself  to  us  all  here,  through 
your  own  meritorious  conduct,  my  boy,  and  you  have 
earned  the  fortune  you  possess  through  honest  endeavor  to 
follow  the  right,  I  am  happy  to  know.  Go  forward,  still. 


404  A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 

There  are  bright  prospects  and  many  years  of  happiness 
before  you,  and  those  connected  with  you  by  filial  ties  — 
and  I  am  sure  you  will  appreciate  me  when  I  remind  you, 
in  these  last  feeble  moments,  that  the  life  of  the  truly 
upright  man  consists  in  the  constant  enjoyment  of  an 
intercourse  with  the  good,  in  seeking  for  good,  and  in  the 
contemplation  of  being  and  doing  good. 

"  True  goodness,  Morris,  is  the  investment  that  never 
fails.  The  way  of  truth  is  the  shortest  road  to  our  end. 
It  carries  us  thither  in  a  straight  line  —  be  sure  of  it. 
And,  for  the  rest,  remember  that  the  pure  religion  of  the 
heart  scatters  over  the  movements  of  our  lives  her  con 
stant  favors,  but  reserves  the  choicest  of  all  —  her  divine 
blessing,  as  a  crowning  solace  for  having  acted  well  our 
part  —  for  the  final  hour." 

And  thus  the  exemplary  honest  old  farmer  passed  hope 
fully  away,  leaving  his  ample  property  to  his  gentle  wife  ; 
who  lived  but  a  few  years  afterwards,  when  she  be 
queathed  it  to  her  adopted  Eunice  —  and  the  two  grand 
children  that  came  to  bless  the  subsequent  years  of  Morris 
and  his  comely  4  Sunnyside  '  wife. 

These  children  were  a  girl  and  boy.  The  former  took 
strongly  after  her  mother  —  our  Eunice  —  who  was  an 
enthusiastic  botanist  through  her  whole  life ;  and  who 
naturally  transmitted  to  her  first  offspring  a  love  jf  the 
beautiful  in  nature. 

On  next  page,  we  have  an  illustration  of  this  first-born 
of  Eunice  and  Morris  Deans,  as  she  sits  conning  over  the 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT. 


405 


illuminated  pages  of  her  "  Child's  Book  of  Flowers,"  of 
which,  like  her  tasteful  mother  before  her,  sweet  little 
Daisie  Deans  was  a  most  ardent  admirer. 


DAISIK  DEANS—  COINING   HER  FIRST   BOOK   OF  FLOWEBS. 

And  on  page  406  we  present  a  picture  of  the  boy,  young 
Blount  Deans,  reclining  at  his  leisure,  with  the  ever  faith 
ful  dog  —  old  "  Spot  "  beside  him. 

The  elder  parties  described  in  these  pages  have  all  gone 
to  their  long  home,  now.  The  young  men  (with  but  one 
exception)  are  still  living,  to-day.  They  are  older  and 
wiser  as  well  as  richer  than  they  were  when  we  first  pre 
sented  them  to  the  reader ! 

But  eech  and  all — through  the  means  we  have   indi- 


406 


A    HUNDRED    THOUSAND    DOLLARS    IN    GOLD. 


cated  —  attained  the  wealth  that  these  men  are  now  enjoy 
ing.  They  began  right.  And  all  of  them  pursued  their 
object  with  the  firm  conviction  that  permanent  riches  are 
not  acquired  through  speculations,  but  always  more  desir 
ably,  more  honestly,  and  more  certainly,  by  the  daily 


YOUNG  BLOUNT  DEANS,  AND  HIS  PET  DOG  "  SPOT." 

practice  of  zeal,  industry,  frugality,  perseverance,  and 
true  economy. 

Thus  our  representative  characters  gathered  their  gains, 
and  thus  they  achieved  what  they  started  for,  in  life  — 
each  in  his  chosen  way  —  as  others  may,  with  similar  good 
will  and  application. 

We  are  personally  acquainted  with  the  individual  types 
whose  veritable  histories  are  herein  recorded.  We  have 


HOW   TO    MAKE    IT.  407 

known  them  and  watched  them  in  their  progress,  from 
poverty  to  wealth.  We  have  now  told  how  they  suc 
ceeded,  and  shown  how  others — through  like  judicious 
management  and  skill  —  may  make  at  least  "  A  HUNDRED 
THOUSAND  DOLLARS,  in  gold."  And  this  brings  our  pres 
ent  volume  to 

THE   END. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


RENEWED  BOOKS  ARE  SUBJECT  TO  IMMEDIATE 
RECALL 


LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-50m-12,'64(F772s4)458 


361552 

PS1219 
Burnham,  G.P.         B45 

A  hundred  thousand   H8 
dollars  in  gold. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


